I rarely go out in my old age. It is not my age actually that is the reason. COVID did it. I was fearful of becoming infected. Became a recluse. Stayed in. Did not go out except for doctor and hospital visits for 342 days. Now, I can’t kick the habit.
I did go out last thursday evening as I mentioned the other day. Dinner at Antonia’s with Dan and Lisa Riordon of Skaneateles, N.Y. Dan and Lisa have been Key West visitors for 18 years. Generally, the month of January. Now, January and February.
Die hard Syracuse fans.
They owned and operated a restaurant in Skaneateles for years. Sold it 3 years ago. A tough business. Now enjoying life.
I had not been out in more than 3 weeks when we had dinner at Antonia’s. The smile on our faces tell the story. We had a wonderful time!
I promised them we would go out again this week.
Picture #2 relates to another blog I wrote last week. The one where I was best man at Bob and Helen Marks’ wedding 42 years ago in Maine.
I mentioned I had hair at the time. Something lacking at this stage of my life. Several wrote and asked if I had any photos showing hair. I recalled Bob and Helen’s wedding photo and had them send it to me. I was 47 when the photo was taken.
Look at the that full head of hair! Amazing!
I was also thin. No more.
Syracuse/Notre Dame last night. A great game! Syracuse won 78-73. The victory itself not the story. it is the way Syracuse achieved the victory.
Syracuse was behind by 4 at half. No big deal. It was close most of the first half.
Notre Dame is a 3 point shooting team. All 5 players pop up the 3’s. They were dropping like rain drops. All over the place. Notre Dame made 15 3 pointers in the first 30 minutes of the game.
Notre Dame could not miss. Especially in the first 8 minutes of the second half. With 12 minutes remaining, Syracuse was down 12 points. On its way to losing. Even Boeheim thought so. In his post game interview, he said, “Heck of a comeback, we were in jeopardy.”
Boeheim’s coaching genius came into play at that point. He put 4 freshmen on the floor and went into a full court press. Turned the game around! Notre Dame lost its cool. The freshmen began making Syracuse 3’s.
Most people are unaware what a bee hive of Ku Klux Klan activity Key West was 100 years ago.
The story.
The Ku Klux Klan was established in Key West in the early 1920’s. Always a reason for something to occur. In this instance, Key West’s Black community was organizing. The white population feared the activity.
Marcus Garvey, a black man and international figure in the national black equality movement, visited Key West. Garvey was in effect the Martin Luther King Jr. of his day.
Key West leaders gathered together to establish the Klan in the Keys.
Charles Ketchum of Key West became the Grand Dragon for the State of Florida. Key West became the headquarters for the State organization. Its offices were located on Eaton Street.
Violence and terror erupted in South Florida under Ketchum. Florida experienced more lynchings per capita than any other State in the Union.
Hard to believe such occurred. Key West today is the Home of One Human Family.
A 2022 Syracuse University study found that a taxpayer in the lowest and middle income brackets was five times more likely to face an audit than a member in the highest bracket.
The millionaires, billionaires and corporations do not face the same abuse.
On this day in 2009, Pilot “Sully” Sullenberger performed the “Miracle on the Hudson.” By so doing, he averted a major disaster. His heroic display of skill and composure responsible..
Sully was piloting a US Airways flight which collided with a flock of geese. His engines failed. The plane was carrying 150 passengers and 5 crew members.
Sully safely landed the plane on the Hudson River. An impossible feat. All lives were saved.
Sully became an instantaneous American hero. Deservedly so!
Wear long pants, sweater or jacket and go to the gardens later today. A treat of treat awaits. Terri White sings!
Enjoy your Sunday!