What a relief! Having faced the reality that my writing is not destined to be preserved in the annals of the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, or any other public institution of note, it's great to know at least one story will not go down in the flames of unimportance. It is an honor to have made Debbie's bulletin board.
Good narrative!!! Especially the sneaky mention of going UP the river from Jacksonville to Ocklawaha on the St. Johns, which we all know flows from South to North!! Brings back memories of Gamble Rogers at Harper's...
Hey Bob! Something I wish we could have saved from the Great Dumpster Fire that’s slowly trying to incinerate this century: the Queen Kumquat Sashay. For a minute, I thought we were going to get weird enough to make Austin nervous, and I was so proud
I’ve had plenty of offers from folks who would fund its return, but … it was a helluva lot of work. And I don’t want sponsorships. It had its place in time …
Bob, fascinating historical narrative about John and Ellen James from Dover, England. I don’t think I ever heard that from Skellie. And I can relate to your comment about obscure place names in Lake County. Instead of trying to explain a location to someone unfamiliar it’s usually simpler to just tell them “not far from The Villages.” 😆
I know you said it correctly, but you reminded me of one of the mysteries of the English language. If they are your great-grandparents' children and the siblings of your grandmother, why are they not your grand aunts and uncles. Great aunts and uncles seems like they should be the siblings of your great-grandparents. It's one of those weird quirks of the language that has never made sense to me.
Not only do people not know where Yalaha is, it is difficult to pronounce, along with Oklawaha and Okahumpka. Spell checker wants me to call it Yamaha!
Would love to hear those Native American names as pronounced with a proper British accent. Don't forget that they would have had to cross the Palatlakaha to get from Okahumpka to Yalaha.
Pass the bong! I’ll be studying Debbie’s collage like it’s the poster tucked inside the White Album. And love the twin gendarmes keeping the peace atop your rum bar. The heads I’m not so sure about
As one who has actually packed up the car in the face of raging fires, I hate to admit your stuff is much cooler.
Well, if there were an actual fire raging here I’d likely not be as contemplative about these things.
To touch a memory can be profound …
Whoa … that’s way too deep for me, Jill.
What a relief! Having faced the reality that my writing is not destined to be preserved in the annals of the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, or any other public institution of note, it's great to know at least one story will not go down in the flames of unimportance. It is an honor to have made Debbie's bulletin board.
And it has an honored position, my friend.
And we Gators know why it flows north.
Good narrative!!! Especially the sneaky mention of going UP the river from Jacksonville to Ocklawaha on the St. Johns, which we all know flows from South to North!! Brings back memories of Gamble Rogers at Harper's...
Hey Bob! Something I wish we could have saved from the Great Dumpster Fire that’s slowly trying to incinerate this century: the Queen Kumquat Sashay. For a minute, I thought we were going to get weird enough to make Austin nervous, and I was so proud
I’ve had plenty of offers from folks who would fund its return, but … it was a helluva lot of work. And I don’t want sponsorships. It had its place in time …
That black and white family photo, and your bulletin board, are epic.
Bob, fascinating historical narrative about John and Ellen James from Dover, England. I don’t think I ever heard that from Skellie. And I can relate to your comment about obscure place names in Lake County. Instead of trying to explain a location to someone unfamiliar it’s usually simpler to just tell them “not far from The Villages.” 😆
Or… not far enough from The Villages
Grandma (Roland’s wife) always called Astatula Rumptatula. She said she was “too much of a lady to say ass”.
Although Uncle Roland would have loudly emphasized that syllable. Nice hearing from you, cuz
I wish I had known him. He died before I was born. Loved this installment. Shared with Hank and Will. Enjoy that rum! You can be lit without the fire.
Roland was a big spirit. I got to know him a little bit but not nearly enough.
I know you said it correctly, but you reminded me of one of the mysteries of the English language. If they are your great-grandparents' children and the siblings of your grandmother, why are they not your grand aunts and uncles. Great aunts and uncles seems like they should be the siblings of your great-grandparents. It's one of those weird quirks of the language that has never made sense to me.
Ya know, that’s a great question … for which I don’t have an answer. But mine were both grand and great.
Not only do people not know where Yalaha is, it is difficult to pronounce, along with Oklawaha and Okahumpka. Spell checker wants me to call it Yamaha!
I’m told Yalaha is Seminole for orange, but I’m not so sure about that.
Would love to hear those Native American names as pronounced with a proper British accent. Don't forget that they would have had to cross the Palatlakaha to get from Okahumpka to Yalaha.
Damn, left that one out.
Thanks for the thought-provoking tip.
And than you for reading, Mark. The world needs more readers.
Pass the bong! I’ll be studying Debbie’s collage like it’s the poster tucked inside the White Album. And love the twin gendarmes keeping the peace atop your rum bar. The heads I’m not so sure about
Those gendarmes are Royal Bahamian Police. Debbie collects them…
Definitely the family picture!
I hope he's backed up that picture online though- just in case.
I see a resemblance to you somewhere in there, cuz. On Stanley or Roland.
Loved this!!! Made me really think about what’s important
Yup, need to take inventory every now and then.
Now I'll have to go look up Yalaha and wonder what they cook there.
A lot of roadkill. Although there is the Yalaha Bakery, which is a relative newcomer and which I have yet to visit.