On the Wednesday, we moved down to Sertoma and had a very pleasant weekend. Connie’s cousin from California was visiting and we were able to meet them. As part of showing them around, on a perfect Friday morning, we went back to Sleepy Hollow, where we had a $5 breakfast (steak and eggs) by the lake and Jim, Don and Barbara took an airboat ride, just as Sally and I had done in February. They were very pleased that they not only survived the airboat ride but also saw a Water Moccasin snake (also known as a Cottonmouth) and Alligator. It was here that I came across another of those great examples of how our common language divides us as the very nice young waitress returned to our table (admittedly with a coffee jug) and asked, very personally as she leaned across the table in front of me “Would I like a touch up”. I could scarcely contain myself; until my friends pointed out that she merely wanted to top up my coffee cup.
Saturday was the day of the memorial for Larry Gibson. He was one of the founding fathers of Soggy Bottom and also Sertoma Youth ranch, as well as the manager for 17 years, though we did not know him.
We went to the memorial and watched as they performed a ‘Masons Funeral’, which was interesting. This was followed by speeches or informal comments by friends and family. This was quite moving, even though we didn’t know the man. In particular, a grandson spoke fondly of how they had frequently gone fishing and hunting together. There were many tears. We were then encouraged to go and jam together into the afternoon and night with Larry’s favourite description of playing, which was ‘to rip the tits off this one’ (one being the tune that was being played). Which, with some enthusiasm, we complied with.
Sunday. We have come to see Marilee for a couple of days before returning to Connie and Jim’s, where the van will have major surgery as we hopefully get running boards fitted, which I hope will make it much easier for Sally to get in and out of the van.
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