A child at heart. I am glad I still am on occasion.
Last night was one of those times. I enjoyed the children’s favorite Aladdin Jr at the Waterfront Playhouse.
I never would have attended were it not for Larry Blackburn’s daughter Sydney playing the female lead Princess Jasmine and Donna and Terri’s granddaughter Lev performing as the Matron.
Both outstanding. The entire cast outstanding! The show professionally performed.
I stopped at the Chart Room first for a drink. Then Aladdin. Then back to the Chart Room again.
John bartending.
Glad I returned to the Chart Room. Met Tim and Stephanie. Locals, also. Though our paths never crossed before.
Tim works for David Wolkowsky. One of his responsibilities is taking care of Ballast Key.
When Tim mentioned he worked for David, I brought to his attention the KONK Life article I did several years ago about David. Tim surprised me. He had read the article. David had read it. David referred Tim to it.
At the time, David laughingly referred to the article as his obituary. A pang of guilt hit me for a moment. Then I realized such is David’s nature to comment in a joking fashion about some things.
It will be many more years before David has need of an obituary. He is only 98.
To those who may be unfamiliar with David, he is Mr. Key West. The Key West of today would not have been were it not for him. Even to Jimmy Buffett.
Buffett tells how David gave him his first paying job. At the Chart Room, no less. The same chart Room we were in last night. The same Chart Room David constructed as part of the Pier House which he built.
It was after 10 when I left the Chart Room. Had not eaten since breakfast. Stopped at Tavern ‘n Town on the way home. Tavern ‘n Town has added a Happy Hour from 9-11. Perfect for me last night!
Today an historical one in Key West. Uber and Lyft are finally allowed to provide service in Key West.
I read an article yesterday that Key West is the last major market for Uber and Lyft service. Disgraceful. We should have had it two years ago. However, the Key West Commission continues to operate via the Bubba system.
An even better example of the Bubba system in operation is that no new cab licenses have been issued in Key West for 75 years. Called taking care of your own, generation after generation.
Got a manicure thursday at Lee Nails.
No Tammy. I forgot she was taking her two children home to visit the family. Tammy is originally from Vietnam. I recall her telling me the trip would take something like 34 hours. Three or four stopovers included.
Husband Rickie stayed home. Someone had to run the business.
When I telephoned and discovered Tammy had left, I panicked. Who was going to do my nails? You, Rickie? No Mr. Lou, he said. You get a beautiful girl. The prettiest. Nina.
I could not place Nina. When I showed up friday, we met. Loverly! Came to the U.S. two years ago from one of the eastern bloc countries. Loves Key West people and weather.
Nina is 23 years old. A bashful 23.
Tammy had obviously left Nina with marching orders as to how I liked my nails done. Nina did a magnificent job. Especially the buffing.
Yesterday, I wrote about cursive writing. Most do not seem to appreciate handwriting as much as I do. It has to be my age. I learned to hand write when 6. The computer did not enter my life till many many years later. I am less adept with the computer than with handwriting.
My friend Tom in Des Moines believes there is no need for cursive today. Initially intended to speed things up from hand printing, today not needed. The computer is everything.
I mention cursive again this morning because typing on a screen came to be on June 29, 1975 around 10 in the evening. In a small California town.
Prior thereto, man had never hit a key and a letter appeared on a screen.
The mere fact that it happened gave birth to multiple changes in the way we live. The future of business changed, how we communicate with each other changed, etc. The world changed.
The responsible individual was Steve Wozniak.
Ten months later Wozniak and two others formed Apple. The other two, Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne.
Last year, Apples revenue was in excess of $215 billion. Its employees, 116,00 world wide.
Enjoy your day!