My good Greek friends Theos and Dina have returned. They are visiting Key West this week. Both are regular Key West visitors. Twice a year. I have known them some 15 years.

We had lunch together thursday. Maine lobster pizza while sitting on the Atlantic. The three of us devoured two of them!

I remained in last night as I will explain in a moment. Received a telephone call from Jean Thornton. She had been somewhere in Bahama Village to hear Larry Smith perform. While enjoying Larry, Theos and Dina came in. Larry announced here are Lou Petrone’s friends from Greece. They got to meet Jean. 

Jean called to let me know and how wonderful they were.

 I am celebrating Easter Sunday with Theos and Dina at Antonia’s. All the years they have been coming to Key West, they have never dined at Antonia’s. They are in for a treat!

The mass shooting at Florida State University a tragedy. Will we ever learn? I mentioned a few days ago prior to the FSU shooting how we still have not done the necessary to reduce shooting deaths.

I panicked when I received the call re the shootings. Robert and Ally are both students at FSU. I called Corey immediately and was told they were ok. Then called Robert and Ally. The shootings were just before noon. Fortunately and typically of college students, both were just getting up. Neither had classes till the afternoon. They were aware of the details involved, however.

Both were visibly upset. Grandfather Louis was also. I cried as I was talking with them. 

As those of you on in your years, you will recall fire drills while attending school. From grammar school all the way up. Today, these kids have shooting drills. Ergo all were prepared as what to do and what had to be done. Interesting to hear what Robert and Ally had to say. Even more interesting, what the media has conveyed how the students and police handled the situation. Everyone had it down to a science.

Another medical situation, another doctor. Yesterday it was Dr. Frank Don, a dermatologist.

I have not seen a dermatologist since before COVID. It was time. Over time. I have some growths, etc. The good doctor did the things dermatologists normally do. Swiftly took care of the minor problems. Two of some significance. He clipped a growth I have had behind one of my ears. It is still bleeding this morning. My bed pillow was a mess when I woke.

The other might be serious. A growth on my left ankle. He cut away. Being tested. The area still hurts this morning.

Excellent doctor and staff. I was impressed.

The 43rd annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration began yesterday and runs for 10 consecutive days. Fun every day all day. Craziness will bound! Like a pajama party at Sloppy Joe’s.

Trump continues trying to rewrite American history. He should not. What is is. Good, bad or indifferent. Truth is truth.

The 250th Anniversary of the United States is soon to be. Trump is all excited. He is either blind to the truth of American history or does not care. He will portray it as what he “wants it to be.” His actions an assault on history itself, an effort to sideline critical inquiry and purge the past of uncomfortable facts.

He is way off base in many instances. Especially where he is concerned. He once claimed he would have “crushed” a combined ticket of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

Will we survive him?

Mae West is one of America’s famous actresses. Successful! Though her success was rooted in sex.

She was once jailed for obscenity. Made no difference. She became one of the world’s most successful sex symbols. Fans could not resist the offer: “Come up and see me some time.”

The American Revolution began the 18th day of April in 1775 at Lexington. Seven hundred British troops and seventy seven American Colonials. Later that day, the “shot heard around the world” was fired at Concord.

I close with might be described as “truth vs. literary license.”

Today historically relevant. Purportedly Paul Revere made his famous ride. The distinguished American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow made Paul Revere famous when he penned his famous poetical line “Listen my children, / And you shall hear / Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere.”

One problem, however. It was not Paul Revere who was the hero in 1775 at the time the first shots were to be fired at Lexington. It was Israel Bissell. Historians suspect Longfellow took a bit of literary license. Bissell did not rhyme as well as Revere.

Paul Revere did ride, as well as several other men. Historians conclude Revere only rode between 1.5 and 20 miles shouting…..To arms, to arms the British are coming.

Israel Bissell rode 345 miles. The trip took 4 days 6 hours. He rode from Watertown, Massachusetts to Philadelphia. The trip was over the Old Post Road.

Enjoy your day!