a new persona (I’m not there)

After ordering a small chest-of drawers about six weeks or seven ago, a wooden shipping crate arrives, addressed to myself, only in Chinese characters. Apparently shipped out on a slow boat somewhere outta a China.

My new 'mail-to' name in caps, with our new, and latest address listed below.

 

 

Starting all over

Three moves in the past two months. Unpacking and stacking in time for the holiday cheer. Just need some lights.

full circle

There was a period when my family dynamic wasn't so dynamic. When we as a family had left Siesta Key and moved closer to town, to 1632 Floyd Street. It lasted for about 2 years, from 1957 through '58. 

This past month, due to being washed away by Helene & Milton, Sandy and I have repeated the same. 

We left the island, but this time permanently. For me having been there some seventy years all told, now had found Floyd by circumstance once again. We took an annual lease on an unfurnished cottage just a few houses down from a nearly forgotten early memory. 

On Floyd Street, my father had walked away from my mother, from all of us - and about the same time, my mother began to drink.

Luckily today, I still have a few of those family photos saved (thankfully) that I had previously copied. Most of those early family albums were lost during our recent, two big floods. Today we signed that lease. And now 66 years later, with me being the last of the family, I'm back living on Floyd.

 

My mother looking not so happy. She wasn't. 1957

 

 

 

My next-door neighbor A.J. and I, selling lemonade on the corner of Floyd & Orange Ave. 1957

 

I loved costumes and outfits. A bull outfit my mother made for me for a school play. 1957

 

As the family divided, my older sister Caren, soon was sent off to boarding school. While my mother and I, later would move back to Siesta Key - just the two of us. (My sister and I at Floyd Street in late 1958).

All Souls Day

November 2nd;

Weeks after two multiple disasters, Hurricane Helene and Milton, hundreds of black, unmarked "double-haulers" have been noticed roaming about town - presumably collecting all those lost forgotten souls. All Souls Day - a day as a reminder to celebrate and honor the past.

Big Cypress Reservation

Seminole Tribe of Florida

Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki   "A place to learn, A place to remember"

Middle school student from Ahfachkee (translated meaning; 'Happy'), K thru 12 school. 

(Forgot her name, lost my notes)

 

 

 

Ada "Tater" (Bird Clan, matriarchal).

The red handpaint, painted across the mouth, is a symbol that is used in solidarity with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement (MMIW).

 

 

 

 

Dawn's early light

In that morning's Netherworld, looking for answers.

 

 

Hurricane Milton

Been in the dark now for a week.

Milton took down the old growth, and stripped the leaves from the trees. Siesta Key became the center of the storm, coming in at a Category 3 with 120mph sustained winds. 

When a hurricane "eye" passes over, during that short period of calm, some old-timers would say, "Good time to walk the dog."  And we did.

National radar map highlighting the heavy precipitation north of the 'eye' with Sarasota (blue dot) being at the center as the 'eye' rapidly passed over. A way for it to all end.

October 9th, 2024

Hurricane Helene

Thursday, September 26th; Massive flooding out on the barrier islands from a historic storm surge.

"It may seem irrational to see some people stay with their homes to defend them, but consider coming home to a damaged house that an insurance company may never compensate you for." Jeff VanderMeer, NYT, Sept. 27th, 2024.

Finding the couches not in their right place, the beds and furniture, the books, or the family photo albums (the odd objects all tossed about) having all been floating the night before, upon returning home, found overturned or scattered across the floor, was at the least - bizarre and distressing.

One of a few items that was actually meant to float, I found perfectly upright the following morning. 

 

Interesting photo

 

For myself, it was an intense wind-filled night spent mostly holding a flashlight in hand in near chest-deep water. 

In the darkness, a four to five foot high Gulf surge had lifted our outside deck and thrown it up against the house trapping the outside exist of the sliding doors. By 8:00 pm a whirling, brackish water ran (swam) through-out the home's interior. Prompted by a social media post, luckily, a down-the-street neighbor came by kayak and rescued me.

The day after, a lost view, looking out towards the lagoon where a Hurricane Helene left a devastated garden. Where inside, a black muddy stench created by a toxic environment of contaminated sea water left evidence of growing mildew and mold.

The property will eventually have to be cleared and our home pulled down, leaving the few remaining reminders permanently gone.

 

 

Downtown; Hotel Voco.  (Evening of the following day).

My wife's jewelry, my old Stetson, and Lolly's reaching paw, from my attempt at retrieving those small carriable items after that first return back home. Many more days to come. Thirty more years worth.

 

 

 

Another one, and they just keep comin' ....

Tropical storms, hurricanes, storm surge & flooding. Mandatory evacuations declared today for all Level A areas, our designated Siesta Key island flood zone.

Now approaching Hurricane Helene. And it’s only been 6 weeks since the last flood (Debbie). We're all gettin' a little worn out, tired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

at Keelie's request

My niece is the archivist. One who reminds me that important items should always be documented.

In late 1977, I purchased a fine, Seminole woman's patchwork skirt off a used clothing rack from the old Miccosukee Cultural Center, then located along the Tamiami Trail down in the Glades. I was gathering material for a series that I had started, on documenting native American clothing.

The Hidden Seminole, (1978) - satin patchwork skirt with sheer translucent cape.

 

 

As for the skirt, I have kept it in my possession for over 45 years, rarely pulling it out from it's forgotten drawer. Recently I decided to return it back to the tribe for which it once belonged. So, I contacted the AH-TAH-THI-KI Museum's collections department - and they said they would love to have it.

Appears to be from the early 1950's. A rare satin, "ric-rac" patterned patchwork skirt, with a tied waist, worn by a female tribe member as daily wear (unlike those that were crafted later for the tourist industry). 

 

 

 

So I wrapped it up and sent it out yesterday.

 

 

 

An early photo of a Seminole homestead, showing a young family living alongside the old Tamiami Trail.

 

wet dream

 

 

 

High water

Big gators. 

A 10 foot road kill.

 

 

Woman's Tongue

Common name; Woman's Tongue (or Albizia Lebbeck)

Twenty some years ago, I tried my darndest to eliminate an unfamiliar sapling, weed like, as it continued to grow profusely under an old, mature, Buttonwood tree. 

The so-called 'Woman's Tongue' is a highly invasive, yet remarkable species, originating from tropical Asia and northern Australia. Named as such for its hanging dried seed pods which are often heard "rattling in the wind."

Now, and for the next several days this deciduous, mature tree will prove to be special in achieving its first ever massive bloom. I figure this Woman's Tongue must be happy. Or just maybe, someone's trying to tell me something.

 

 

 

 

a Guest of Honor

Sally Lucke Elkes (b. 1932)

A philanthropic arts leader, an early local mover & shaker, and a dear friend - who once, years ago, married in our home. A truly exceptional "childless cat lady" in all the good ways. 

At 92, and born during the Great Depression, Sandy and I today treated Sally to a special birthday luncheon. And Sally's birthday wish (besides her cats)?  She wanting still to have a pet fox, and only wishing today she had one to raise. A hard wish to honor.

 

 

Mid-August; hot, humid with an early evening's cooling breeze

A potential set-up right out of a Carl Hiaasen novel.  Hiaasen's 'Bad Monkey' premiers today as an Apple TV+ release with a typical Florida backdrop - unexpected waters. 

 

 

Prepping for an evening paddle tour of Sarasota Bay.  Mysterious; hot, humid, and a little salty.

poor kids

First day; Beginning of a new school year.

With an acrimonious local School Board, creating budget cuts, causing teacher & staff shortages, some public school parents have chosen instead, to transfer their children to a newly preferred, subsidized 'charter' school. Hopefully this year, those returning back to their local public school (specially those little ones) will be able to find a few of their old pals. Poor kids.

Southside Elementary's opening day (Sarasota County schools)

 

 

 Welcome back "Panthers"

 

Showtime

Sarasota's Circus Arts Conservatory. Always happiest at a circus venue. Even have a dedicated (perpetual) seat gifted by two loving daughters. Thank god for children.

 

Seats emptied, performance long over, time to go home.

global outage (CrowdStrike)

7:30 am - The outpatient lab at SMH still down, reflecting Microsoft's, "blue screen of death."

 

 

Today she told me, "lay down ......

and take a deep breath."

Discovering Artificial Intelligence.

 

 

 

 

details