Home Again

As I write this, I am sitting on my couch in West Hampstead, having coffee and a peanut butter sandwich and happy to be home. I'm exhausted, of course, but I've still been running around and unpacking and watering orchids and starting laundry and cleaning bathrooms. (Dave's housekeeping isn't quite up to my exacting standards, and of course I say that with love and I think he'll laugh when he reads it. I think.)

I saw Olga only briefly before she went out with her dog walker, so she and I have yet to catch up.

The flight home was uneventful. The overseas leg was just as empty as my flight to Florida two weeks ago, so again, I had plenty of space to spread out. I think I was even in a premium economy seat, which I didn't ask for -- I guess British Airways is taking care of me since I'm a frequent flier. (Or was before the pandemic!)

I landed in England about 10:10 a.m. and cleared passport control and customs quickly. The airlines checked my Covid test results and UK passenger locator form (which tells the government where I'll be quarantining and where I sat on my flight) before I boarded the plane, but I was surprised that none of that happened again at the border. I just sailed through.

And yes, I do now have to quarantine, though apparently not for the full ten days. The UK is changing the rules for so-called amber list countries (which have some risk of Covid but not a huge risk -- the USA is on the amber list). As of Monday quarantining is no longer necessary. So I guess I just have to quarantine until then. I do, however, have to take two Covid PCR tests, on day two (tomorrow?) and day 8.

Holy cow -- the GARDEN! It is a veritable wall of green. I can't believe how much it's grown in my absence. I'll share photos tomorrow.

Today you're seeing an old photo that I took in downtown Tampa back in the mid-1980s. I shot a roll of film while walking around the city, and then at some point I threw out all the negatives and I no longer have the prints, either. I thought they'd all been lost. I was happy to find this print at my brother's -- I guess I gave him a copy at some point. Preserved for posterity! Kind of a shoddy masonry job, wouldn't you agree?

And speaking of masonry, which reminds me of Freemasons, here's a dollar bill I got in my change while in the states. The pyramid with the eye -- often considered a Masonic symbol -- has sometimes been seen as a sign of political conspiracy. I guess that's what this person was thinking. I wonder if he/she (probably he) writes this on all his/her dollar bills? That must be fatiguing.

Frog and Bug Chorus

Well, today's the day I head back to England. I'm catching a plane to Miami at 5:38 p.m. and then connecting on to London, arriving about 10:30 tomorrow morning. So when I post next it will be from home sweet home, with Dave and Olga by my side.

Meanwhile, this morning I'm back at Dunkin' Donuts, and I'm happy to report there was absolutely no drama involved in coming in and ordering my coffee this morning. And they gave it to me free anyway! Are they reading my blog? Are they intimidated by my social media power? (Ha!)

Yesterday was mostly about getting ready for my flight. I had to take my pre-flight Covid test and get my "Fit to Fly" certificate. I also had to complete a Covid tracing document for the British government, but it requires my seat number on the airplane and I don't have that yet -- so I'm going to have to do it again after I check in. Argh!

I zipped out at lunch to meet my friend Cherie, who I've known for many years and who worked with me at a couple of area newspapers. We went to La Teresita, a Cuban restaurant in West Tampa, and caught up on all our family news. I had a media noche (a kind of Cuban sandwich) and black bean soup -- flavors of my hometown not easily available, as far as I know, in London.

Then, late yesterday afternoon, my stepmother came back from a trip to New England, so I went to the airport to help collect her and we all went to dinner. My stepsister is recovering from a cold but I gave her one of my Covid tests just to be safe -- and she was negative. So that's a relief. I sure don't want to get around anyone who might have that!

Late last night, I went to get a vanilla shake for dessert and to drive around the neighborhood a bit. On a nearby road I passed a swampy area, and even in the car with the windows rolled up, I heard the cacaphony rising from the cypresses and ferns. I had to stop and make a recording:

Steve Reed · Noisy Swamp

Now, that is nothing like any sound I ever hear in England! If I ever get homesick for Florida I can put this recording on a loop and allow it to put me to sleep -- though I think it will also make me want to swat at mosquitoes!

(Top photo: A colorful shop selling "ropas y zapatos" in West Tampa.)

Road Trip With Eggshells

I'm back in Tampa this morning, and back at my Dunkin' Donuts. Once again, I showed up at 6:08 a.m., the lights were on and there were cars in the parking lot, but the door was locked. I stood out there like an idiot for several minutes, unable to see anyone inside. Finally a guy who looked like he was about to go bass fishing wandered up outside with a key, said "I got ya buddy," and opened the door.

I said, "I don't understand this place. They say they open at 5 a.m. but they never do."

He said, "I think they just forget to unlock the damn door."

We both came inside and he went behind the counter and appeared to have a little talk with some people back there as he got my coffee -- which he gave me free. I think he's the manager. I heard the others apologizing to him.

Anyway, all Dunkin' Drama aside, my trip back to Tampa was fine yesterday. I set out from my brother's pretty early, and drove down via Palatka and Interlachen, a different route from the one I took last week to get to Jacksonville. I stopped at a scenic riverfront park to take some pictures (top) before crossing the St. Johns River in Green Cove Springs. By Palatka I needed breakfast, so I stopped at the proverbial golden arches and ordered an Egg McMuffin, and got one with extra calcium -- the thing contained so much eggshell it crunched with every bite. (I know it was eggshell because I checked.)

I ate it anyway.

Some interesting roadside manifestations of religion I encountered:

This was outside Palatka, and it appeared to be a car wash. It wasn't until after I took my photos that I realized someone was asleep on that porch.

This little church is in Citra, near Ocala.

And so is this one. I remember when we used to drive north to my grandmother's every year, I always looked out for this beautiful little historic church.

When I got back to North Tampa after several hours of driving, I stopped off at a Goodwill near the Interstate. This place was packed with stuff, but I didn't see anything I wanted. (The bar is high, since anything I buy I'd have to lug back to England.) I was, however, tempted to buy this t-shirt for Dave:

I couldn't do it, not even for just $2.98, not even as a joke. I did, however, send him a picture.

This perfectly illustrates what's so perplexing about the Trump phenomenon. Have you ever seen any other presidential candidate depicted in such terms? How ridiculous would it be to have Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton astride a tank, holding an AR-15 with dollar bills fluttering carelessly from his pockets? I mean, it's ridiculous for Trump too, but I find it mystifying that he inspires that kind of imagery. (Pretty accurate in terms of how he manages money, though.)

Last night I met for dinner with my college friends John and Sue, and had a great time. We went to a little microbrewery near their house, and I brought them the ancient copy of the Miami Herald that someone donated to our library several months ago. Sue is from Miami and they're both journalists and well acquainted with the paper, so I knew they'd love it. John said they'd take it to work at the Tampa paper and show it around. I'm glad I found a home for it.

On the way home, I stopped for a delicious peanut butter shake at Bo's, a legendary drive-up ice cream place on Florida Avenue. Made my night!

The Jaguar

Yesterday was Mom's 84th birthday -- not that she was entirely aware of it. Apparently her fellow residents all sang "Happy Birthday" to her in the morning, and she got a special tram trip around the grounds of her retirement center. By the time my brother and I showed up in the late afternoon, she was sound asleep. One of the nurses woke her, which I felt bad about, but eventually she got a bit more animated and we had a good visit. We brought some cupcakes and some new slippers, and we took her in to dinner and sat with her while she ate. When I left she gave me a long hug, which is very unusual for my mom -- as I've said before, it's often hard to know what she's thinking, but I know what a long hug means.

My brother and I spent the earlier part of the day at Castaway Island on the Intracoastal Waterway. You may remember from previous visits that I usually go there when I'm in Jacksonville to see birds and other wildlife.

There wasn't a whole lot happening in the heat of the day. We saw a couple of egrets (above), some cardinals, a red-bellied woodpecker, an osprey, a buzzard and some small crabs.

The cardinals, both males, sat in the trees and called to each other, beener-beener-beener.

This picture of a distant boater on the waterway shows how hot it was -- you can see the heat ripples in the air. I would not want to be out on that boat. That looks miserable.

After a sweaty walk in which we continually brushed away deerflies that did their best to penetrate the barrier of our insect repellent, we retreated again to the air-conditioned car. Blessed air conditioning! We drove to Neptune Beach, where we had exotic tacos at the Flying Iguana -- in my case, one seared scallop, and one green tomato and black-eyed-pea. We found a colorful, aquatically decorated sculpture of a jaguar (top photo) outside the restaurant.

One of the things I wrestled with on this trip was what to do with my great-grandmother's quilt. It was on Mom's bed when we visited, and it had obviously been worn by recent laundering. I initially thought I might take it home to preserve it -- Mom was always hesitant to use it, and it's mostly been in drawers and closets as long as we've had it. But then I thought, "Why?" I don't think my great-grandmother would mind it being used by Mom under these circumstances, and we can't save everything as if we lived in a museum. Maybe Mom derives some comfort from its familiarity. I left it there.

Today I'm headed back to Tampa.

BBQ Beach Bound

We woke up yesterday with nothing specific to do, and my brother floated the idea of going to the beach. The younger niece leaped around excitedly, and the older niece shrugged with apparent indifference -- typical reactions from both of them. We first considered Fernandina Beach, north of Jacksonville, but eventually settled instead on Anastasia Island near St. Augustine. We all piled into my brother's truck and headed south.We drove down A1A, the coastal highway, because my brother (and all of us, really) prefers a scenic road to a characterless interstate. 

Anastasia Island and Crescent Beach are huge, wide expanses of hard-packed sand. Once again, people can take their cars onto the beach, although in this case the cars stay on a narrow strip up beyond the tideline -- unlike Huguenot Park, where drivers can motor right down to the waterline and get themselves submerged if they're not careful.

And of course, the minute we got there it poured rain, but only for a few minutes.

None of us like to lie out in the sun, or even sit under a sunshade, though it was fun to see the colorful umbrellas and beach tents that others brought to keep themselves protected.

We headed to lunch first, a favorite place called South Beach Grill that turned out to be closed. Curses! (From the recent reviews, it sounds like the place was struggling a bit and there was some drama over paying employees, so it's probably just as well.)

We drove south, off the island, and found a place at Bing's Landing in Palm Coast called Captain's BBQ that hit the spot. We ate on a screened porch overlooking the Matanzas River, and then wandered around an old historic home site called Mala Compra ("bad bargain" in Spanish). There's not much there now beyond foundations, but it was interesting.

Then we headed back to the beach and while the kids played in the water with their mom and my brother dozed in a beach chair, I took walks up and down the beach.

I saw these guys land windsurfing, aka terrasailing. The wide, mostly empty beach looks like a perfect spot for that activity.

By the time I got back, everyone was ready to go, and we were homeward bound. We spent most of the day in the car but I didn't mind. I love a good road trip!

North Jax Resto Tour

I went for a drive yesterday on the north side of Jacksonville to take some photos -- the less-healthy equivalent of one of my usual urban photo walks! (As in most American cities, things are too spread out here to walk, unless you're downtown.)

I came across this used car dealership and I was certain that building must be an old fast-food restaurant. It just looks the part, you know? I did some research, and it turns out it was an outpost of the local Milligan's Beefy Burgers chain, which succumbed to competitors in 1974.

This little neighborhood watering hole had an amazing green car sitting out front.

I liked the sign, too!

This one has a great paint job. I don't think I've ever seen a restaurant so prominently advertising chicken gizzards.

And finally, there's this great old Chinese restaurant over on U.S. 1, Chopstick Charley's. I just assumed it was long closed, as I think many people would, but I was astonished to find that apparently it's still in business! It's been there since the early 1950s and is known as Jacksonville's oldest Chinese restaurant.

I got out for a while to give my brother and his family some space. This is the longest visit I've ever had with them, and I don't want to put them under too much pressure to "entertain" me. I had lunch at a little restaurant in Springfield called Crispy's, where I sat and read my book. I'm going to try to get out and about some today, too.

In the afternoon my brother and I visited Mom again -- she seemed a little less coherent this time, but I think it's because we were sitting in a public area (the dining room) with a lot of distractions, and another woman (also with dementia) was sitting at our table asking us lots of repetitive questions. It was hard for Mom to focus on us, and vice-versa. She seems much better when she's in her room interacting with just one or two other people.

Last night's Marvel movie: "Doctor Strange," with Benedict Cumberbatch and Tilda Swinton. It's worth it for the effects alone!

Rooftop Rendezvous

I went with my brother and nieces to lunch yesterday in downtown Jacksonville, and my sister-in-law (who was working nearby) met up with us. There's a new Mexican restaurant on the roof of the VyStar building, and I thought it might be cool to see the city from a new perspective. Apparently the restaurant isn't fully open yet, but I guess we looked pathetic and hungry, because they seated us and we enjoyed it. I'm guessing it'll be very popular with the after-work crowd.

The view above shows the Wells Fargo (formerly Modus) building in the foreground, with one of the bridges leading over the St. Johns River. That Modus building, originally known as the Independent Life building, built in 1974, is probably the best-known structure on the Jacksonville skyline.

Here's a view of the rooftop patio, although we ate indoors. (View plus air conditioning!)

In the background of that second picture you can see these buildings. My brother says they're in the process of being turned into a single, interlinked hotel. I thought the Carling sign behind them was a beer advertisement, but no -- apparently it's the name of an apartment building.

We walked around afterwards just enough to get hot, and then headed home. I went in the afternoon for another visit with Mom, and we had a great time. I told her about the day and about lunch, and then we looked at some old photos. It was a good way to spend the time, because she didn't have to try to speak -- I could just keep up a running commentary on certain pictures or events and she could laugh or respond with a word or two. (Usually, of course, "Oh, God," although sometimes "Oh, God, no!")

Once again it's hard to tell what she's thinking, but there's no question in my mind that she knows what she's looking at. She definitely reacts to certain images. For example...

...she laughed really hard at this picture, of me and my brother at Christmas in 1970. I think my brother capsized just before the shutter clicked, and maybe I'm reacting? Anyway, she got such a kick out of him rolling around on the floor.

Just outside my mom's retirement community there are some expensive houses along Julington Creek. One of them had this in the yard:

But then next door, there was this:

I've seen this in a couple of places, where neighbors seem to be in a dialogue (to put it nicely).

Last night's movie entertainment was "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," which I liked, but I'm not sure how closely I followed the plot. It was kind of a salad of words and explosions. (The three or four glasses of wine I consumed while watching it probably didn't help.) Am I the only one who thinks Captain America's shield is a total cop-out? It basically allows him to do anything. It's like an automatic get-out-of-jail-free card.