One Off The Bucket List

 Check One Off the Bucket List…Sort Of…

Last week I shared that Mike and I were scratching something off our “Bucket List.” If you read that post you know we already addressed our desire to relive our teen years by eating at the original Frisch’s Big Boy Restaurant.

There were a few more items on that list, including 

·      Visiting the Corvette Museum in Kentucky

·      Taking in the Kentucky Horse Park, also in Kentucky

·      Visiting the Dry Tortugas about 70 miles off of Key West

·      Taking a Trip to Alaska

Well, we did it! We checked off one of those items and loved it!

We visited Fort Jefferson located in the Dry Tortugas. AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

Fort Jefferson was established as a fort, a point of protection, yes, but served as a prison during the Civil War. I first became intrigued with the history of the place when I encountered the story of Dr. Samuel Mudd.

Samuel Mudd was the doctor who treated John Wilkes Booth for a broken leg. Booth broke his leg jumping from the balcony after shooting President Abraham Lincoln. Emotions ran high. Though Dr. Mudd asserted he knew nothing of the conspiracy, he was found guilty as a conspirator for the act of treating Booth’s broken leg. 

Many of the conspirators were hanged. Dr. Mudd was sentenced to life imprisonment in the federal prison, Fort Jefferson, located in the Dry Tortugas.

While there, an epidemic of Yellow Fever broke out. Dr. Mudd is credited for his work to save prisoners, civilians, and soldiers, alike. Over 200 soldiers signed a petition for his release. Dr. Mudd was pardoned after serving four years of his sentence.

If you’ve read the account of Queen Esther in the Bible, you know that she, a Jew, was made the Queen of Persia. When the Jewish nation was in threat of being destroyed, Queen Esther was in the unique position to save her people.

There’s a line in the book of Esther in the Old Testament where Mordecai tells her that perhaps she is Queen “For such a time as this.”

That story came to mind as I read the account of Dr. Mudd. He was sentenced to a remote federal prison where he was able to serve and save many.  “For such a time as this.”

A View of the Ft. Jefferson Parade Ground

It would be interesting to explore what happened to those survivors. 

The two-and-a-half-hour ferry boat ride out and back was a bit rough, but worth it. We were on Garden Key for four hours and didn’t see everything.

So, though we may have checked it off the bucket list…we’re putting it back up. Anyone in?

Celebrate November

 Celebrate November with a Bit of Adventure

When Mike and I started dating, we talked about items on our respective bucket lists. We’ve both traveled a bit. We’ve both been out of the country, but there is a lot of this country we haven’t seen. 

I had a list of places in Ohio to show Mike. He had places in Florida I’d never seen. And there was a lot to see in between. We pretty much decided without saying a word, that our life together would be fun. Adventurous.

In Ohio, we lunched at the original Frisch’s restaurant. That was a treat. Don’t laugh. Frisch’s was a big part of our teen life. We not only lunched there but also had a long conversation with our hostess who started working for the company as a car hop back in the day. 

Between Ohio and Florida is

the Kentucky Horse Park and

the Corvette Museum. Both made the list.

“I’ve always wanted to see Alaska,” he told me.

“Me too!”

We chatted about what we knew of such a trip and shared information we’d gleaned from friends who’d been there. I have a friend who worked for a cruise line in Alaska. She worked in their gift shop located portside. I shared the information I gleaned from her. 

Mike and I talked about the best times to go, what to see, and what we’d heard about traveling by ship or train. Or both. It was a fun conversation. A shared dream.

Another item on both of our lists was about as far from Alaska as you can get and still be in the USA. The Dry Tortugas. We’ve both been to Key West, which has a marker as the southernmost point in the nation, but the Dry Tortugas has a fascination all its own. It is the home to Fort Jefferson.  Though now a national park, Ft. Jefferson's history as a prison is interesting, including shall we say, its “clientele”? 

This week, my husband and I are checking off something we both had on our respective lists. Can you guess where we are? What we will see? What we will do?

·      Kentucky Horse Park?

·      The Corvette Museum?

·      Both? (Since they are both in Kentucky)

·      Alaska?

·      The Dry Tortugas?

I’m not telling. Not yet. But when we return, I hope to post pictures and stories from our adventure. Stay tuned.

By the way, I am out of town. I appreciate anyone who might repost this while I'm uh...unavailable. Thanks!

Six Gun Territory Revisited

 Six Gun Territory Revisited

Some of my Florida friends and family remember Six Gun Territory in Ocala. The popular tourist attraction featured a western town complete with typical wild west storefronts and gunfights in the street. This was before Disney seemingly took over the theme park venture in the Sunshine State.

Sheriff at Six Gun

As a teen, I had the opportunity to visit Six Gun Territory many times. When friends or family came to town, I would go with them to enjoy the wild west experience. 

I remember the day I was there with two younger cousins. We stood in line to get the autograph of Tommy Norden who played “Bud Ricks” on the popular show, Flipper. Tommy…or Bud, as I knew him on television, was a year older than me. We were both in our teens. He signed a photo of him with Flipper for each of us. 

Then…he asked me if I wanted to get a cola with him. There were only a couple of people left in line. I know I grinned. Though most of the teens I knew had a crush on Luke Halpin, who played Bud’s older brother, I must admit Bud…uh, Tommy, was pretty good looking and very sweet. 

The temptation to say yes to his offer was strong, but my responsibility to my cousins was stronger. I held onto that picture for a long time.

In 1984, Six Gun Territory closed its doors after over twenty years in operation.

Eventually, the Kirby family bought the props, train, and whatever they could from what was left of the Ocala venue. They are working to renew the experience and honor the memory of the popular park. 

But they do more than that. Kirby Family Farms recreates the wild west on the property one weekend a year with the proceeds used for programs for at-risk and special needs children. All of the actors are volunteers. I love that.

This time, I wasn’t on the lookout for a cute boy. I already have Mike. 

There's more...

When we read the description of who would be there, I came across the name of Mary Badham. Mary Badham was cast as Scout, the daughter of Atticus Finch, in the movie To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus Finch was played by Gregory Peck. 

With...Mary Badham

The book by Harper Lee remains a classic. Mary Badham, as Scout, was nominated for an Academy Award. She was, at the time, the youngest nominee ever. She didn’t win. Patty Duke won with her portrayal of Helen Keller. Still…

We packed a lot in while we were there. We walked around, ate lunch, and took the train ride. The experience was different from the original park, but it was good. The children watching the shows, talking to the cowboys, and waving from the train were all smiles. Those kiddos never knew the original Six Gun Territory. They will have their own memories of a day in the old west.

As for me? I was pleased to meet Mary Badham, to hear her stories, and to enjoy the warm November sunshine. 

P.S. Mary Badham confirmed that she and Gregory Peck remained close friends until his death in 2003. He still called her "Scout." 

Log House Pic
taken from the Train

 

Taking home a win

 Taking Home A “Win”

A Beautiful Sunrise Over Lake Yale

This past week I attended the Florida Christian Writers Conference 2025. For this week’s blog post, I decided to share a few “take aways” you can apply to any situation. Be aware, you will likely recognize your mom’s voice in these…

Eat breakfast every day

         Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. At least that’s what I’ve always heard. Breakfast at the conference was cafeteria style with choices of what you ate and where you might sit. 

         Over breakfast I had the opportunity to meet writers of various ages and differing genres. Let’s face it, I’m not a fantasy-alternative-world kind of writer. Still, I appreciate differing genres because, though they may offer different settings and unique characters, the story is still “Good vs Evil” or “Love Conquers All “or perhaps, “People Change.”

 Even in normal everyday life, emotions and circumstances force us, as the protagonist in our own story, to stretch… and hopefully grow. So, if you have a goal, writing or not, take that first bite and get ready to grow.

         Part of that growth leads us to the next point…

Don’t judge a book by its cover

         I met writers of every age, shape, color, and background at the conference. Men, women, teens, and children attended. Not everyone writes women’s fiction as I do and even those in the genre may take a different spin. 

         I met a woman who is writing her personal story of surviving abuse. Another is chronicling her travels. A man at our table one evening shared his desire to share the message of faith in Jesus through his space alien saga. I must admit that one was hard for me to follow completely but I tried, and I asked questions.  

         And that, my friends, brings us to the next point…

Be a good listener    

Why?  Because everyone has a story. Everyone needs to be heard. And…you can learn something from each person. Not just in the world of writing. If we listen to others, we can learn about them… “the deep-down-inside-them.” 

It may be a new perspective a person brings to an old problem. You don’t have to agree with it, but learning about it helps you relate to that individual. And if you are a writer, you’ll hear a new voice, an outlook one of your characters may hold. And finally…

Celebrate the victories in your life…not just the big ones but the small victories as well.

         I sat with a young woman at lunch one day who said she was nervous about attending. She shared with me she hasn’t published anything though she’s been writing for a long time. For herself. An audience of one. She told me putting herself out there…taking a chance on publishing was daunting. I celebrated with her the decision to take that scary step toward publishing. 

         I’m a mom. I know it takes desire, courage, and determination to take that first step. This young lady and I sat together at the Saturday evening “Just Desserts & Awards Ceremony.”  Neither of us were called up on stage. Neither had submitted or for that matter, even published much during the year. 

         “Maybe you’ll submit something next year,” she told me. 

         “Maybe we should both consider getting a fancy dress,” I told her. “Whether we win or not.”

         Because, most of the time, just showing up is a win. In any circumstance.         

 

Enjoyed the company of
Michelle Medlock Adams and Eva Marie Everson.
Saving my Glitz for Next Year!

 

 

 

Everyone has a Story

 Because Everyone Has a Story…

Often, when people find out I’m an author, they tell me they have a story. Sometimes their story is one of surviving against all odds or a story of falling in love. On occasion they share how they would love to preserve their family history… which includes survival and love and everything in between.

This week I am going to offer you a challenge of sorts that will set you on the road to capturing your story and could prove to be a meaningful gift for someone special in your life.

For twenty years, people across the US and beyond participated in a sprint writing event called NaNoWriMo which stood for National Novel Writing Month. The idea was to complete fifty thousand (yes 50,000) words in thirty days. NaNoWriMo has since closed its internet doors.

 

Yet…People still write. It was merely a way to connect with other writers, encourage each other, and work hard to complete the task in a defined period of time. It’s called “accountability.”

This week I want to suggest a much different writing plan for you. NO WORD COUNT. NO ACCOUNTABILITY TO ANYONE EXCEPT YOURSELF.

For the month of November, every day…EVERY DAY…write a story about each member of your family. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, kids, grandkids…anyone and everyone. 

That story your grandmother told you about how her dad rode a horse to school? Put it in writing.

That embarrassing moment you had in high school that now makes you laugh? Type it in your computer.

Write down how your parents met. 

Maybe you don’t know all that much about your Great-grandma Lucy. You have the date of birth and date of death…hmmm…research that time period. Can you find out what was going on when she was a teen? What would she have read in the news or heard on the radio? Think about how outside events shaped her life…and continue to shape ours.

For example, several years ago, my uncle put together a book for each member of his family called “Pages of Time.” He listed the dates chronologically of world news events with the dates of family births and deaths placed where they fell in the timeline. It is interesting to see what was going on in the world when my mother was born. Those events shaped her parents’ life choices which in turn shaped her.

Pages of Time 
Family History Book

Here's another idea for your “book.” My Aunt Pat made wonderful cake brownies she served with ice cream, drizzled with chocolate topping. I could write a memory of Aunt Pat and include her recipe, and yes, I have it. 

The challenge: This November write at least one story for each family member, those close and those “extended” family members. One a day.

In December, edit and print your “Family Portraits”, find recipes and photos to include and take your book to a print shop like Office Depot or such.

 

Your “book” will outlast you…and be a treasure to your family…

…Because Everyone Has a Story.

P.S. Let me know if you are considering this journey. Let’s encourage each other along the way. 

  

Tiki and GG

Tiki and G.G.

This past weekend, Mike and I did a little dog sitting. Mike’s son Shawn has two pit bulls. You’ve read about Roxy in an earlier post. If you missed it, CLICK HERE.

Roxy now has housemate. Grunt is larger and younger than Roxy. That doesn’t matter. Grunt pays attention to Roxy’s careful, motherly guidance. 

Grunt received his name because as a pup… and I guess for a fairly long time thereafter, he didn’t bark. He only grunted. 

The dogs were great and we enjoyed them. But this post isn’t actually about the dogs. It’s about our cat, Tiki.

Tiki is not a fan of the dogs. She walks softly but carries a sharp claw. Just ask Roxy, who still bears a scar on her nose from being  reprimanded by the cat years ago.

Meet Tiki-Kitty

Still, although the cat can stand up for herself, having two critters five times her size hanging around the house for several days is not pleasant. She doesn’t attack. She simply avoids them by hiding under the bed or in the closet in peaceful protest.

So, this time, when Shawn had an event planned for the weekend and asked us to dog-sit, we, in turn, asked my mom if she would be willing to cat-sit. 

Understand, neither my mom nor I were what you would call “cat people.” In our farm upbringing, cats were working animals in charge of keeping mice out of the corn or other grain stored in the barn. Cats were not pets. They were farm hands.

Enter Tiki.

Mike and the Cat

When I married Mike, he had two dogs and the cat. Everyone told me to steer clear of the cat. She was Mike’s and not likely to make friends. 

They were wrong. I never tried to force myself on Tiki. I spoke to her gently and fed her when needed. Mike was still her primary caregiver. When we would travel, we took Tiki to Shawn’s house where she contended first with Roxy and now, Grunt as well. 

Tiki was not a happy camper. 

Over time, Tiki learned to trust me. She likes when I scratch behind her ears and follows me when I head to the pantry to get food for her. When I didn’t feel well, she cozied up on my lap and kept watch. Tiki has accepted me as part of her world.

Then my mother came to live with us. Everyone told my mom to watch out for the cat. Mike would say, “Don’t trust her!”

But, like me, Mom only spoke words of kindness to the critter. And the cat responded. "GG loves you..." Mom cooed. (GG is what the great grandchildren call my mom.)

So, when Shawn asked us to take care of the dogs this past weekend, we asked Mom if she wanted to take care of Tiki. We delivered the cat, her food, litter box, and supplies to “visit grandma.” 

Both have enjoyed the time together. So today, I looked at my mom and asked, “Who knew we were cat people?”

I guess the only one who knew is…Tiki. But she hasn’t actually said anything about it. She just appreciates it.

I'm not 100% sure,
but I think Tiki sent the "kids"
to Time-Out before she left.

 

Vette Fest 2025

 Vette Fest 2025, Their Twentieth...Our First

This past weekend, Mike and I travelled to Kissimmee, Florida for the annual Vette Fest at Old Town. Although there is an actual “Old Town, Florida” on the banks of the Suwannee River, this Old Town is a recreated village in Kissimmee, Florida just a few miles from Disney World. 

This ‘Old Town” is an eighteen-acre entertainment district filled with shops, restaurants, rides, and live music. On occasion it is the backdrop for classic cars or muscle cars. And... it is the home to Vette Fest. 

You Know
You're at a Car Show
When the Golf Cart
is All Decked Out

Every year, Vette Fest brings Corvettes and their owners together for a weekend of fun. This was a full weekend and this year they celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the event. 

Mike and I go to car shows. A couple of hours here or there. Never a full weekend.

 

Our Vette... because
"A Corvette Should be Red," Mike says.

We prepared. We packed our bags and took Tiki Kitty to stay with my mom for a little Vacay.

The drive was incident free. Good thing.  But it meant we were off to a good start.

We settled in at our hotel and set about to explore a bit of Old Town. Since this was our first Vette Fest, we checked in with the folks running the event to get the lay of the land…so to speak. 

We roamed around and decided on dinner at a place called Olde Town Tavern. We were a bit early and the only folks there so the service was great! Moreover, the food was excellent. Afterward we explored a bit more, headed back to our hotel, and settled in for a good night’s sleep.

The View of Oldtown
From Our Room at Night

The day of the show, we parked our pretty red car as assigned on the brick road in front of the myriad of shops and restaurants. We were one of the over three hundred and seventy-five Corvettes present.

Once parked, we set off exploring, talking to other car owners, and poking around in the many specialty shops along the way. 

At lunchtime the sky opened and the rain poured down. But it wasn’t bad. Actually, it was kind of fun. We cozied up on a bench and watched the people, the cars, the rain. The rain didn’t stop people from shopping, stopping to look at the cars, or to enjoy every aspect of the venue.

To quote Mike,"It's a car. it won't melt."

At three o’clock, the rain had slowed enough for the parade of cars to snake their way around the town. People lined the street taking pictures. 

It isn’t often you see that many corvettes from nearly every era of their existence cruising along the brick streets of Old Town. People took pictures, movies, and waved. Everyone on the sidewalks stopped and those in the stores came out. 

Over 375 Cars? Yep. 

Corvettes are pretty cars and often get a modicum of attention, anyway. But to have that many in one place at one time was, quite frankly, impressive. And fun.

So even though Vette Fest was almost Wet Fest, we had a great time.

Mike and I aren’t flashy people. We aren’t ones to seek attention because of things we own. We simply both like our Corvette and the fun of a car show. 

And as a hint…I was there collecting valuable information for something else in the works. Any guesses?