There was a quiet that hung over us as we arrived to play golf yesterday morning.

The normal banter and kidding each other was not there.

The cause was Linda’s death. An unspoken thing as we gathered to divide into teams and go forth to play.

Once play commenced, everything fell into its normal routine. I played with Don, Tino and Michael. I finally had a good day at golf! Was the big winner! Proud was I! All of $9!

The custom is that the winner buys drinks. Normally the winner walks away with around $20. Drinks cost me $7.50. Without tip! So my better game yesterday ended up costing me money! I did not care! I was thrilled to have finally played well again!

We sat around on the porch of the club house drinking and talking after golf. About 10 of us. The ice was finally broken. Some one mentioned Linda’s name. And then in varying degrees every one spoke of and about her. Some even shed a tear or two.

I was watching one of the TV talk shows last night. Alex Kerensky’s name was mentioned. In what context, I am not sure as I was half asleep. And I find no mention of him in news reports on the internet this morning.

Let me tell you a bit about Alex Kerensky.

He was the first President of free Russia.

At the time of the Tsar’s abdication in 1917, the Russian people were divided into two groups. The White Russians and the Red Russians. The good guys and the bad guys as it turned out.

Kerensky was the leader of the White Russians. His presidency lasted about 8 months. There was a civil war and the Reds beat the Whites. The Reds were the beginning of the Russian communists as we have come to know them. The Reds were ideologically led by Lenin. From the Reds ultimately came Stalin.

Keresnsky, overthrown by the Reds, had to to flee Russia to save his life.

He ultimately settled in New York City and eventualy became a Professor at Columbia University.

I attended Manhattan College in New York City. Columbia and Manhattan are on the Seventh Ave subway line. Columbia at 116th Street and Manhattan at 242nd Street.

Kerensky agreed to be a visiting professor at Manhatttan College for one semester. To teach Russian history covering the 20 years from 1898 to 1918. The 20 years leading up to the Russian revolution and the revolution itself. He rode the subway 2 times a week from Columbia to Manhattan and back to teach the course.

The class was limited. About 20 persons. I was lucky to get into it! I was excited to take the course. I was a history major and what could be better than to take a course from an individual who had actually lived the material he was teaching!

The course was fantastic! Wild! Overwhelming at times if you were a history freak as I was. Here was a man who led the revolution! And a man who understood the consequences of communism. Recognize that I was taking this course around 1955, a time when the United States and Russia were in deep conflict. The threat of actual war hung over us. About this same time Kruschev, the then Russian leader, took his shoe off at the United Nations, slammed it on a desk and told the world Russia was going to bury the United States. The conflict was reality!

Kerensky was distinguished appearing. He had presence. Soft spoken. If I had to compare him physically to someone, I would say he looked like a white haired Jack Kennedy.

Tonight bocci! A big match! For the money, as the saying goes!

I hope my golf streak continues into the bocci matches!

Paths cross. Lives interact.

I spent yesterday hanging around the house contemplating friend Linda Schrufer’s death. Trying to understand it.

She touched me.

Life goes on. Today, golf.

Linda Schrufer died Sunday night.

Sad. Very sad. I feel terrible.

She was a dear friend. A true friend.

I first met Linda and her husband Bill about 10 years ago. About the time I bought my home here in Key West. Linda and Bill were from Reading, Pa. They wintered here. They were for real snowbirds.

Home in Key West was a lovely condominium in Truman annex. Linda furnished it tastefully. It was a bright colorful place. Vibrant! Just as Linda was!

Linda enjoyed entertaining. She was the hostess with the mostest! The Pearle Mesta of Key West! The food and drink were always good. Her mixture of guests superb.

Linda was loyal. Or maybe she just liked collecting stray cats. When I first met her and Bill, I was living with my wife. Since that time, we have separated. This was no problem for Linda. She continued to invite me to her home and out to dinner. Something most others failed to do. My being a single instead of a double did not affect her relationship with me in any way. In fact, as I think about it, Linda was sort of a collector of sad souls. Many times there was a widow or widower in her company.

Good of heart might also be used to describe Linda! I remember when my daughter Lisa was about to marry. Linda threw her a lovely shower. Though genrations apart, it made Linda and Lisa’s relationship forever special.

Linda’s charity here in Key West was the Red Barn theatre. She was a fund raiser supreme! How could any one say no to her charming smile! A generous heart in her own right to whom generosity returned.

Linda, we are all a bit less now that you are gone. You are already missed by all who knew you. You touched each of us.

Last night I searched the heavens looking for that bright new star. I know you are there somewhere!

One final thought. When you are scurrying around in Heaven, you will probably be inviting the Lord over to dinner. He’s a single!

Pax.

The lead article in Sunday’s Key West Citizen was that the Steamplant condominiums were nearing completetion and would be open in 90 days. More importantly, 14 of the 19 units were already contracted for and closing merely awaited final inspection and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Congratulations to developer Ed Swift! In spite of unanticpated setbacks, you hung in there! And made it to the finish line!

Key West has two business persons of vision. Individuals who see where Key West’s future lies and are not afraid to take it there.

I speak of Ed Swift and Robert Spottswood.

Swift with the Steamplant and other projects. Spottswood with the Beachside complex at the entrance to Key West, as well as his many other developments.

Both men put their money where there mouths are, so to speak. However in these instances even their private fortunes were not enough to cover the investments involved. They extended themselves in each instance for a dream. And after anguish and pain and an unexpected falling economy, each is on the road to success. Success not only for themselves, but for all of Key West.

Good men, indeed!

My son in law is Corey Malcom. Lisa married a great guy!

Corey is originally from Indiana. He has that mid west solidness about him.

There is no ocean any where around Indiana. But there was a magnetism attracting him to the waters. Corey for more than 25 years has been the Chief Archeologist at the Mel Fisher Museum. He dives for a living searching for pieces of history on the ocean floor.

Corey has developed a specialty. Slave ships! He is probably the most learned man in the United States on the subject. He appears 3-4 times a year on the History Channel, has written several articles on various slave issues and is an invited guest speaker nationwide.

My son in law, Corey!

One of Key West’s local newspapers is Solares Hill. In the publication which came out yesterday, there was a brief comment on page 2 that Corey had written an article for the Florida Keys Sea Heritage Journal, the official publication of the Key West Maritime Historical Society. The article basically concerned itrself with pre Civil War slaves being transported to Cuba who had been saved by US forces and were returned to Liberia in Africa.

An interesting story. Read it, if you can.

One thing that struck me in Corey’s rendition of events was that greed appears to always be with us.

Many of the slaves being returned to Africa died on the way. Scurvy. Not enough potatoes or citrus fruits. A footnote in Corey’s work evidences that the local KeyWest Marshall provided provisions rich in vitamin C. Twenty one barrels of potatoes, 8800 limes and 200 lemons. However, a doctor traveling with the ship said no such provisions were available.

No more is known. Was something actually amiss? Did these people have to die? We will never know. Note that the greed aspect is something I pulled out of my reading. Corey made no reference to it. The main story wrote of deaths by scurvy because of a lack of potatoes and other foods. The footnote said provisions were provided by the Marshall.

Yesterday I spoke of the local interest in establishing a clothing optional beach. Later in the day I was at the Pier House’s Beach Bar having lunch. Lo and behold, a topless wonder appeared! There in the water was a lovely lady exhibiting her jewels in all their glory! And her husband or boy friend rapidly clicking pictures of her!

When the picture taking concluded, she put her top back on. And there it stayed! I know! I kept looking! It never came off again!

These two young people were probably taking the pictures to show their friends back home of the “risque” time they enjoyed in Key West! I sometimes think that Key West’s reputation in this regard far exceeds that which actually exists!

A nice day ahead. Have fun!

Donna and Terri have been back from New York a week. Last night was the first chance we had to hook up for a time, except for a quick hello.

They invited me to dinner!

Besides enjoying their wonderful company, it gave me an opportunity to review for the first time Terri’s reviews from Finian’s Rainbow. Outstanding! Like a star is born!

Some of the review comments are as follows.

Variety wrote “…Terri White shakes the rafters of City Center–and probably Carnegie Hall around the corner–with her featured specialty Necessity.”

The NY Times. “Terri white as a sharecropper brings a sly humor and a lustrously dark tone to ‘Necessity,’ a comic lament for life’s drudgery.”

Theater Mania said, “Abetted by conductor Rob Berman, Carlyle has seen to it that brash Baldwin, grinning Jackson, bobbing Bobb, the luciously twirling Faye, and the delectable Terri White (who leads “Necessity”) all deliver every golden measure to its utmost.”

Talkinbroadway.com reported, “Terri White does little more than lead the realism-honed spiritual ‘Necessity,’ but she does it with such from-the-gut-fervor, it’s more than showstoppingly sufficient.”

That’s my girl, Terri! Good job! You did break a leg! We are all proud of you!

Finian’s Rainbow is scheduled to reopen full time on Broadway in Novemberr. And Terri will be starring in it!

All of Key West loves you, Terri! And we all feel a small piece of your success!

Hung out at home yesterday in the morning. Read and watched TV.

Lunch at Paradise Cafe. Cuban toast with melted cheese and tomato. The simple things taste the best!

I was reading the newspapers when Harry walked by. We chatted for awhile.

Harry is a retired oncologist from Reading, Pennsylvania. His wife is Marney. Nice people. They live in Truman Annex. Harry was taking a walk when he spotted me.

Last night bocci!

We played better. Still lost 3 games, however. Such is life!

We are so buried in the cellar, it will be impossible to get out. We are definitely headed for a last place finish!

The next 2 matches are very important! They are money games for us. Real money. We have sort of a 4 team side bet going amongst 4 teams. We won last season! Although things do not look so good for us going into these 2 matches, we are mentally up for them!

Captain David and Don have come up with a strategic plan for the matches. Our team has been divided into an A team and B team. We had a pre game meeting last night and were informed. The A team consists purportedly of the 6 best players. Only the A team will play the next 2 weeks. We want to win! Every one was OK with the plan.

By the way, I am on the A team. Though I know not why after the way I have been playing this season. That is our problem, though. Each one of us has been playing poorly. How the mighty fall!

The big house next door to me is being termited. Workman spent all day yesterday covering it in the huge red and yellow tent.

The whole house is covered and sealed. Then gassed inside. Termites killed. A day or two later the tent is removed.

The wind was strong over the ocean last night. I had to close my bedroom terrace door which faces the tented house. I could hear the tent flapping in the wind, which I thought was strange since metal clasp hooks are used to hold it together.

When I arose this morning and looked next door, I could see what I heard. The wind had ripped away half the tent! It all looked sort of ominous!

Time is flying by. We are on the bottom side of April. Time seems to move faster as one gets older. Not good, not bad. Just the way it is.

Have a good day!

Golf yesterday was a disaster! The worst I have played in ages!

I played with Kurt, Larry and Tom. Larry was a saving factor for me. Larry, of Larry Smith fame, normally shoots in the 80s. Yesterday he had an off day. Shot around 110. Good for me! His playing kept me in the game!

Notice that I am not sharing my score with you. Enough to say it was double digits over and above Larry’s score!

Last night was Bobby Nesbitt time at Aqua during cocktail hour. Always good!

However, it is obvious the season is over. It ends Easter Sunday. The northerners, snowbirds as we call them, flock out of Key West as if a hurricane was imminent. That is the way it is. That is the way it always has been.

There were not many patrons to enjoy Bobby’s singing. Nor were there that many persons at La Trattoria where I later had dinner. The restaurant was half or less full.

I did have a good time at La Trattoria, however. An Irish couple sat next to me at the bar. Very interesting people!

The husband was 67. The wife in her mid to late 40s. They have been married for 25 years.

They live in Fort Myers. Their business is there. They operate a school for affluent kids with problems.

He is now a US citizen. She is here on the green card.

Turns out she is a retired golf professional. Played on the European circuit.

Just what I needed. We were into a golf conversation, the course here in Key West and so on. She kept pressing to know my handicap. I normally do not mind telling people nor do I mind telling them I suck at the game. For some reason, I could not last night. I kept avoiding the question. She finally decided that when I said my game was bad that I probably shot around 78. I wish I did!

We had a good time. They visit Key west 3-4 times a year. I look forward to running into them again.

They were staying at the Pier House. Knew of Larry Smith. Often had heard him at the Wine Galley.

I broke my drinking rule last night. I have been limiting myself to no more than 2 drinks an evening. Last night I had 4! Good!

So after La Trattoria I walked over to La Te Da for a drink.

Mary Jo was at the outside bar. I joined her.

Mary Jo continues to amaze me. She is off chemo for a month. They are doing tests to determine if the tumor has shrunk further. I wish her well. She is an amazing woman!

She was talking with Peter. I had never met Peter before . He has lived in Key West for close to 30 years. Owns the building the Gingerbread Gallery is in. He lives upstairs. Has to be a terrific accomodation!

I was home early. By 9:30. An example of my decadent Key West life style!

Tonight bocci! I have no comment to make. I have become fatalistic. What will be, will be!

I am up early. Dark outside!

Yesterday was a relatively quiet day.

I lunched at Hogfish. No hogfish! I ate catfish. Good!

And read the papers.

Bobby is doing a terrific job at renovating Hogfish. It is still an open air thatched roof operation. And it continues to maintain unquestionably vestiges of old Key West. But, he is improving it!

I visited the family for a while last night before doing my thing. Robert was engrossed in some movie. Ally was spiked! All over the place, doing everything. Pure energy. She is back into beading. The Easter bunny brought her bigger and better beads. Ally makes necklaces and bracelets. She brought a necklace to her teacher yesterday.

I started my evening at the Chart Room. Hooked up with Catain Peter, Marty and Sean. We discussed many things. Including the school disaster here in Key West. I am sure there will be at lest one indictment. Sad.

Louie’s Backyard is a world famous restaurant here in Key West. It sits on the Atlantic. A lovely open air bar deck. Behind which sits a 2 story house with dining inside and out. Out on large porches. All again overlooking the broad expanse of the Atlantic.

The restaurant was hobbling along. Just making it. And then around 1985 Gourmet Magazine wrote it up and pictured Louie’s on its cover. Instantaneous success! The place has been a gold mine ever since. The place to eat in Key West! Especially for tourists.

I do not go! Prior to last night I had not been to Louie’s to dine in about 6 years. The reason is simple. Although the food is absolutely outstanding, it had become a tourist place. Move the customers in and out. I timed it the last 2 times I ate there. From the time I sat down to the time I paid the bill was less than 1 hour. Not good! Especially when you are paying top dollar! Fine dining is not to be rushed!

Last night I returned to Louie’s Backyard!

Louie’s has recently opened a tapas restaurnat upstairs. Marty suggested we try it. So we did.

The view is absolutely spectacular from the second floor! Better than from the first! We sat out on the balcony and could see the outside deck and drinkers as well as the ocean before us. A million dollar setting!

And the food! I must tell you. The best! I am not normally a tapas freak. Last night was different. Everything we tried had great taste. And cheap! The whole bill for 3 was $63, without tip. That included also a drink a piece.

The service was good. No one rushed us.

I intend to return!

Still dark. Black.

Golf this morning. I am anxious to play. It is called self abuse!

I screwed up big time in yesterday’s blog!

I described the President’s new dog as an English sheep dog. Actually, it is a Portuguese water dog. I knew. Why I referred to it erroneously, I don’t know. Has to be the aging process!

And, yes, my dear friend Howard Livingston has a Portuguese water dog. I should know. I have been on the boat and in the water with Howard’s dog many times! She likes me!

I cannot tell you the number of e mails and telephone calls I received regarding the dog description error. Thank you all for keeping me correct. And in this case should I say “politically” correct?

Speaking of English sheep dogs, we once had one. Many many years ago. He lasted as part of the family all of one year.

We got him as a puppy. So pretty! So lovable!

He technically became my daughter Beth’s dog. She was about 14 at the time.

We named him Plato.

I did not know if he was smart at the time, but he did have a mind of his own!

He was impossible to train. He was a year old and still greeting people at the door by jumping on them. Straight up! His front paws over your shoulders!

By age one, Plato was huge. I am 6 foot 1 inch. When standing on his hind legs, Plato towered over me! He would almost knock you over with his greeting. And sometimes did!

English sheep dogs defecate consistent with their size. Big time! You did not just scoop it up. You shoveled it up! And it always left a burn like mark on the grass!

After living with us for a year, Plato developed a personality conflict with me. Why I do not know!

Every morning Beth would walk Plato so he could do his business. Then the kids were off to school. My wife left soon after to go to the office. I was the last to leave.

For about two weeks, every day when I opened my bedroom door in the morning to leave for work, there was Plato sitting outside the door. And next to him was a huge dump on our lovely white carpet!

This went on for two weeks. We could not break Plato of this habit. Obviously it had to do with me. It was probably his way of saying, “Fuck you!”

So I determined Plato had to go.

Frankfort is about 15 miles east of Utica. A small farm town. I found a farm family that wanted Plato. I gave Plato to the family. And broke my daughter’s heart in the process.

Early one morning about 6 months later, my daughter Beth came running into my bedroom to announce that Plato had returned. She said he was sitting outside the side door by the driveway.

“Don’t open the door,” I shouted. “Don’t even let him see you.”

I went down and looked out of the side of the window. Sure enough, there was Plato! Sitting and waiting to be let in!

Good luck!

Plato had made the 15 mile journey back to his original home all alone. Amazing!

I telephoned the farmer. They were concerned. He had disappeared a few days earlier. Fortunately, they still wanted and apparently loved him. I said come and get him! They did. And that was the end of Plato in out lives.

Turns out he was a very smart dog!

I left the house early yesterday morning and walked all over town for about an hour. Felt a need to push myself a bit.

The college had advertised a speaker on the evils of smoking, cigarette compnay investigators, cigarette company lawyers, the government in controlling smoking and so forth. Sounded interesting, so I went.

It was interesting!

The speaker spent much time describing how nicotine influences the brain. He also had 2 for real brains to demonstrate with. One of a chimpanzee and the other human.The human one was cut in half. A ltttle creepy! But compelling to view!

When the one hour lecture concluded, it was about 2:30. I had not had lunch yet. I decided to try McDonalds. I have not been to a McDonalds in 15 years. Not my cup of tea!

There is only one in Key West. Right on the ocean. What a view!

I had a double cheeseburger and a medium diet coke. $2.99. Cheap!

The place was relatively clean.

What really impressed me was the number of customers. At 2:30 in the afternoon there were at least 20 people inside and cars outside lined up back to the highway waiting for service. Has to be a winner dollar wise!

That was my exciting day yesterday. I stayed in the rest of the day and evening. For some reason, I had no desire to go out. So I became a couch potato. A good thing to do on occasion!

Enjoy your day!