awards and memorials

atlanta urban design commission awards tonight at first congregational --- as one of the commissioners, i was introduced as "a native atlantan, and an eighth-generation georgian --- a historian recently retired from the national park service, he loves dogs and old buildings, but also likes his high-rise living in midtown atlanta," which i guess is ok, since a few people laughed --- - saw several people i don't see much, including councilperson norwood, who was not, praise god, wearing a red dress --- i'm not crazy for the new look of the sanctuary (actually two or three years old), but i love the exterior ---

the special award given every year to recognize an outstanding historic preservation professional went to the mason who has done such tremendous work on the monuments at oakland cemetery --- i met him briefly and, as always, promptly forgot his name

also talked to a couple of guys with the atlanta vietnam veterans business association, a group that has put up several dozen memorials to some of the tens of thousands of lives wasted over there so long ago --- the fourth one was installed at cnn center in honor of my brother way last century --- the guy tonight even remembered that gary had gotten a distinguished service cross --- i told them that i found a box of his letters next to her bed when she died --- made me sad