Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Miracles And Wonders, Memories And Troubles


 One of my oldest friends, a very dear woman, is visiting St. George right now and asked if I'd like to come over and meet her in Apalachicola and of course I said yes. When I was on the first leg of the journey the sky was incredible. 


I took these clumsy shots from the car window as I drove and I know- I KNOW, I should not do that. 
But I did it. 

I had a most wonderful experience on my way. One that could almost be called magical but I know it was one of those pragmatic majiks, easily explained by science but still, just my being there to witness it is a wonder to me. I had stopped at a convenience store and when I walked in, I saw a huge yellow moth which I think was a luna moth, despite its color. It was on the floor, flapping, flapping, and while I watched, it found its way to the door which I opened. I watched it flutter across the pavement near the gas pumps and was just about to go and catch it and lay it on some grass as I thought it was dying and that dying on the grass would be better than dying on cement. But as I watched, it fluttered across more pavement and then...and then, it began to fly and it lifted itself into the blue, blue sky. That spot of yellow rose higher and higher and I watched until it disappeared. 
Somehow, it must have hatched in that store and was drying its wings when I walked in. 
I am holding on to that image. That huge yellow butterfly, more fragile than tissue paper, making its way into the realm where it belongs. 

Whoa.

I met my friend at the Owl Restaurant and we had the very best salads and because restaurant salads only grow as you eat them, we sat for over an hour, catching up and talking, talking, talking. She has been through way too much and is learning to live in a new reality that she did not choose. She has a loving family, though, and two beautiful grandbabies that she gets to see almost daily. She is strong, she is amazing, she is making her path in ways that I admire more than I can say. We finally finished our lunch and did a little shopping. River Lily, of course, where I actually bought a few things. The book and yarn store is closed on Tuesdays now which was a huge disappointment. 
"What's the point of even coming to Apalachicola if the bookstore is closed?" she asked. 
"Seriously," I said. 
We were vastly disappointed. 

I'm home now. It was hard to let her go, to get in my car and leave. There were, of course, tears. We laughed a lot, though. I think my filthy mouth amuses her. I may be just making that up. I hope it does. 

On the way home I stopped and took this picture. 


That's Dog Island over there. Or part of it. Our house is in there somewhere. 
Here's where I had stopped. 


The funky little old roadside park between Carrabelle and East Point with its original cement picnic table structures. I have no idea how many hurricanes these things have survived. 

And now I'm home and there is so much on my mind, on my heart. My husband went fishing today on the Aucilla River. He sent me this. 


This is why some of us still want to live in Florida, despite everything. 
Eventually, it will all be ruined and disappear but for now, we need to love on it as much as we possibly can. 

Loving On It From Florida...Ms. Moon

31 comments:

  1. It is so beautiful. Just think what it must have been like before Europeans arrived.

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  2. Thank you for letting us see it while it's still there.

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  3. Those picnic shelters look like the south when I was a youngster and the family vacationed over much of the country.

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    1. Indeed! That was a common and favored design. Don't see too many of them lately, though.

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  4. Your part of Florida is still lovely. Here, not so much. Gorgeous photos. I am glad you had a good day.

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    1. There are still beautiful places down your way but a lot of them are (and should be) protected as state parks.

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  5. Oh that is a bit of magic seeing that butterfly soar! And time spent with someone dear to you. It’s been too long since I’ve been to that part of Florida. It is beautiful and the nicest beaches in the entire state. If it wasn’t for parks, there wouldn’t be much left of what south Florida used to be. I love on the nature in it every day except maybe when a hurricane is heading our way.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. Those damn hurricanes can make you forget the beauty in a heartbeat, can't they? But boy, do they remind us of nature's power.
      You're right about the parks. Funny, I just said basically the same to e.
      We do have the most gorgeous beaches in the state and actually, in the country in many polls.

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  6. Everything about this day of yours is amazing. I had to look up the name I don[t know how to pronounce, to see how far it is for you to go there to have salad with a friend. Not a bad drive! The sky set the tone for the majic of it all. WOW. Here is a link = a map of water over land in the year 2050. Just in case you live to be that old!
    https://coastal.climatecentral.org/map/9/-83.6497/29.7673/?theme=sea_level_rise&map_type=year&basemap=roadmap&contiguous=true&elevation_model=best_available&forecast_year=2050&pathway=ssp3rcp70&percentile=p50&refresh=true&return_level=return_level_1&rl_model=tebaldi_2012&slr_model=ipcc_2021_med

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    1. It is a beautiful drive. You go through funky little towns and over gorgeous rivers and then, when you get to Panacea, the water is right beside you.
      I know that the Florida coastline is changing. There is no doubt of that. One more reason our place on Dog Island is so precious and that we really should use it while we can.

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  7. that sky! the moth release......That visit with an old friend....... oh my! And I think Steve Reed will LOVE that retro park with it's 50's decor!
    Sounds like a perfect day all around
    Susan M

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    1. Ha! See my comment below! I do indeed LOVE those picnic shelters. :)

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    2. I hope never to forget that moth flying so quickly up, up, up into the heavens. It was amazing.
      Steve- you've commented on those picnic shelters before when I've taken pictures of them. Every time I even pass them now I think of you.

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  8. Your pictures make me wish I could see Florida for real. I hope your friend finds peace in her new life. The grandbabies will help with that. Those clouds are amazing.

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    1. My friend is going to be all right because she is amazing but never the same. And that is how it is. Her grands do give her pleasure.
      Isn't that sky crazy?

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  9. Tut-tut! You are a very naughty girl Ms Mary. Taking photos while driving... Send me a hundred dollars and I will not inform Franklin County police.

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    1. Those photos were actually taken right here in Jefferson County and they really do not care about old white women taking pictures from their cars but you can report me. That would be interesting.

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  10. I love those precast concrete picnic structures. They used to be all over Florida, top to bottom, in every state park and every rest area. They're durable, as you pointed out! Those are especially awesome with their turquoise paint scheme.

    LOVE the moth story! It's so rare that the moth wins!

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    1. I LOVE the turquoise paint. It's so perfect, isn't it?
      That moth certainly won. My heart was so happy to watch it.

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  11. What a nice day you had! I could use a day like that!

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  12. When you mention different places I tend to look them up on the map and then at the pictures. What a beautiful place Apalachicola is (although I'm not sure I'd like to be there in a hurricane)!

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    1. And it does seem like almost every hurricane impacts Apalachicola although I know that's not true. But a lot of very old buildings have withstood many storms and are still beautiful.

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  13. That sky is amazing. It's so nice to catch up with an old friend now and then. I wouldn't mind being on that kayak on that river.

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  14. Lovely and I would want Florida to stay wild as well.

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  15. Florida is quirky and beautiful. I'm glad you laughed and cried and cussed with you friend.

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  16. An Amazing Day, from the Sky to spending time with your BFF. I'm enjoying 'visiting' Florida via your Blog, indeed it's Beautiful and still has many Natural unspoiled spots that Humans haven't yet encroached upon and ruined. Arizona is quickly losing ground to encroachment, I miss what it used to look like.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.