After approximately four thousand and thirty-nine years of driving, we finally made it to Roseland. Above you see the requisite photo of the Publix where we stop on our way in to buy groceries to stock our little cabana house with the Roseland water tower behind it.
This part of Florida has some amazing skies.
The driving was not so bad, really, but mostly because I was doing everything I could to envision my lotus flower as Lis says, or something like that. Also, I was reading out loud a book that I've read so many times and even at least once to Mr. Moon and which is such a beautiful rendition of how Florida used to be and how it still is in a few rare and precious places.
I have to say that parts of it are incredibly racist which is absolutely representative of its time. When Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings wrote it, less than a hundred years had passed since the Civil War.
Still. Those parts are difficult to read and every time I read the book, more of those parts become apparent to me and more of them become abhorrent.
And I keep thinking about the fact that she had Zora Neale Hurston as a guest in her house which, in those days, was probably an outrageous thing to do.
Still. Those parts are difficult to read and every time I read the book, more of those parts become apparent to me and more of them become abhorrent.
And I keep thinking about the fact that she had Zora Neale Hurston as a guest in her house which, in those days, was probably an outrageous thing to do.
Anyway, we did our grocery shopping, we drove down the white sand road to the house. We unloaded, I put all the groceries away, and we went down to the dock. Glenn, the man who, with his husband owns this property, had told me that they were finally tearing down and replacing the old Flagler railroad bridge that crosses the Sebastian River which has been a totem in my life since I was five years old but until I saw that it was happening, I had let myself believe that it wasn't.
It is.
I am trying very hard to remember that it is a vast miracle that so much of this place, this childhood place of mine, has changed so little and that honestly, I have to accept that railroad bridges, no matter how historical or beloved by me, cannot live forever.
The river is still the river and we watched the lightening across it, forking great limbs of light that lasted no longer than the flash of a lightening bug, so far away that we could not hear thunder.
All is well.
Glad you have arrived; enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
ReplyDeleteHappy landings! Now just enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt all happened so fast you didn't have time to back out:)
ReplyDeleteThe universe knows you better than you realize. Have a lovely week.
WOW y'all did it- you broke free! Good thing your Bop knows how to drive. Have a wonderful time- it is fresh and new- changes happen. I would feel mighty secure with the guard out there- He takes his job seriously.
ReplyDeleteA-wimoweh, A-wimoweh
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful, rememberful time.
Do you really need to be told to have a wonderful time?
ReplyDeleteNo ... I didn't think so!
The memories that called you back will surround you ... hugging you close and urging you to remember all the good times you had in Roseland!
You made it...Have a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're there!
ReplyDeleteNot too long ago, we librarians were asked to recommend favorite books for a display and I recommended "Cross Creek." I wrestled with it because I remember those occasional racist references, but I still think it's one of the best books written about Florida. As you said, it really captures the state the way it used to be.
So glad you are there!Enjoy
ReplyDeleteHooray, so glad you got away!
ReplyDeleteI have not been anywhere in so long, well, that's not true, I've been a lot of places in the last 8 years or so but nowhere where I didn't have to socialize the whole time, someplace where nothing is expected of me and I can just relax and do nothing and enjoy the surroundings.
ReplyDeleteGo on, admit it. Do you think four thousand and thirty-nine years of driving might have been a tad exaggerated?
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it back to Roseland. In the very south west of England in the county of Cornwall there's a most lovely little peninsula called - yes you guessed it - The Roseland Peninsula.
ReplyDeleteWelcome home.
ReplyDeleteI loved the 1983 movie Cross Creek. Decided to read the book. but couldn't finish due to the racism. Have a wonderful time.
ReplyDelete