HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOUIS

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Today is my birthday. Seventy nine years old! Wow!

I thought of titling today’s blog Happy Birthday Key West Lou! Would have been an error. Key West Lou is only 8 years old.

Two previous birthdays bothered me. Forty and 50. Forty for a whole year. Why, I am not sure. Perhaps because my 30’s were behind me. Fifty lasted 24 hours. Not even worth commenting on.

Reaching today has bothered me for 3 months. I have a feeling it will continue to bother me after today for a period of time. I suspect it is because the next birthday is 80. A real big number! Whether I like it, I am  getting old.

It is Cindy’s birthday today, also. Cindy of Tom and Cindy. Cindy from Iowa who frequently visits Key West. Cindy my friend who has had many cancer surgeries. She has only one leg and one breast. Yet, the most positive and fun filled personality of any person I have met.

Happy birthday Cindy!

I am running late doing today’s blog. Almost 11 in the morning. Probably being lazy because it is my birthday.

The world responds. It is wonderful. So far I have received at least 15 happy birthday e mails and telephone calls. Some from as far away as China, Indonesia, South Korea, and South Africa.

It is a small world. Thank you all.

Finished my research yesterday for my next KONK Life submission. I will write the column this afternoon or tomorrow. The title is John Paul Jones. Revealing! An interesting figure. He of…..”I have not yet begun to fight” fame. I compare him in many respects to World War II’s General George Patton.

Car problems yesterday. I shaved and showered. Dressed a bit tidier than normal. And was out on the town to celebrate my birthday. Stopped first at Don’s Place. Don had just returned from a family reunion in Buffalo.

I went to leave. The car would not start. A 2010 Volkswagen convertible. Had its 10,000 mile check up in Miami. Due soon for the 20,000 mile one.

The starter was not kicking in/turning over. Jimmy came outside to see if he could get it going. To no avail. I had Lisa and family come over and pick me up and return me home. My night on the town a bust! I was disappointed, but not unhappy. I enjoy many celebratory evenings in Key West. An evening of TV and reading was ok.

Lisa is cooking for me tonight. She and the grandkids baked me a cake. They will also be chauffering me back and forth between houses.

Tomorrow, I will have to get someone over to look at the car.

This morning’s Key West Citizen had JJ’s picture on page 3. Person of the Day. JJ is now at the Galleon Sunset Pier. I stopped three times to see him. Wrong day each time. I have not tried again in a while. Parking a problem.

KONK Life’s E Blast carried a picture of the Vandenberg today. In celebration of the 4th, several divers attached a huge American flag to the Vandenberg. What a sight divers will have to behold!

Only in Key West. It has roughly been three years that we have had to put up with the construction work on North Roosevelt Boulevard. The repair work is not expected to be completed till the end of August. Driving has been a pain in the ass for three years. No one will deny the representation.

I have avoided North Roosevelt as much as possible. Instead, I have used Flagler. Rather than going right at the triangle at the end of US 1, I turn left onto South Roosevelt Boulevard for several blocks till I reach Flagler, where I make a right to head into town.

I read this morning that repair work will begin on South Roosevelt Boulevard tomorrow. To last several weeks. From the triangle at the end of US 1 to the Riviera Bridge. The same distance basically I have to travel to get to Flagler.

Both entrances to Key West will be screwed up at the same time!

Why must this second construction be started before the first is completed? Key West City fathers fouled up here!

Enjoy your sunday!

CINDY

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I woke to bad news this morning.

Tom and Cindy are dear friends. Key west friends. They are from Iowa. Used to spend three months a year in Key West during the season.

They both read the blog. We arranged to meet on one of their trips. I remember our meeting distinctly. It was this time of the year. I was watching basketball at the Sports Page Bar when they showed up.

We became instantaneous friends. And have been so for many years.

I noticed Cindy only had one leg. I soon discovered she had had something like eight surgeries for five different cancers. Her leg was gone right up to her body. A couple of operations involved brain tumors.

The woman never complained. Always a smile on her face.

Tom is not only the husband of husbands, he is totally in love with Cindy. His care and concern are obvious.

Tom and Cindy stopped spending three months a year in Key West several years ago. Instead, they are spending their time in Largo. Fortunately for me and many others, they take one month out to travel to Key West from Largo each season.

We are at opposite ends of the spectrum politically. Being from Iowa, they are true 100 per cent conservative Republicans. We never the less get along.

I love them both.

I woke to an e mail from Tom this morning. Cindy fell on a wet floor at a restaurant in Largo. She broke her one and only leg and shattered her hip. Tom says he has never seen her in such pain. It has to be bad!

Recover swiftly, Cindy! Your many friends in Key West miss you. We will be cheated this year. I doubt you will be able to spend a month this with us.

Interesting revelation yesterday. I was getting a manicure with Tammy at Lee Nails. It dawned on me that many Vietnamese who have come to the United States are nail people. I asked Tammy where and how they learned in Vietnam. I was surprised to learn that the talent is not native Vietnamese. They do not learn it in Vietnam. It is when they come to the United States and are looking for work, that they join with the many who have come before them. They go to school here and learn how to do nails.

Great game last night! I watched it from my bed. Stayed up too late. Enjoyed the talk shows afterwards.

Connecticut was the best team! The best team won. Plain and simple.

The Connecticut players are lucky. How many have the opportunity to be #1 and a champion in something. Anything. These young men will remember the rest of their lives the victory. The high point in their lives.

My blog talk radio show tonight. Tuesday Talk with Key West Lou. Nine my time. Join me. www.blogtalkradio.com/key-west-lou.

Topics tonight include interesting Ukraine updates, China in trouble economically, an Atlanta bishop giving up his $2.2 million retirement home, Iceland arresting more big bankers, Venezuela really in the toilet, and more.

Enjoy your day!