 |
| Dad and his Soul |
87 years old and he still climbs ladders every day as he does something to this property or that property.
That frightens one side of me. But, the other side of me takes some comfort in the fact that my dad is still so fit and active.
Unfortunately, no boar hunting last week.
Just a couple visits to the beach, a few chores, and an excursion to Ave Marie, Florida.
Ave (That's ah vay, not avenue or Oy Vay) Maria may become my new home away from home in Florida. Resort-like facilities where the Sister O'Flaherty Home for Sponging Brothers will soon be under construction.
With ambitions not unlike Disney World, developers are creating something out in the middle of nothing, centered around a dramatic church, a university, golf, pools, and, according to one resident, four types of people:
a. "Snow Birds" = Northerns who come during the season to avoid the snow. Sister O'Flaherty will be in that category.
b. "Snow Flakes" = Northerners who come back and forth.
c. Permanent residents.
d. "Frogs" - people who come here and croak.
The nice resident who imparted this info was a pioneer - there since 2010. Growth is happening, he notes. They now have a gas station and grocery store to go with a couple of modest restaurants among the businesses around the church.
People who are not over 55 and Catholic might be concerned by the lack of diversity around Ave Maria. I'm sure there are many people under 55 at the University, and one resident estimated that only about 60% of current residents are Catholic. I, too, suspect that the religion will not be the draw in the future, despite my feeble attempts at humor here. People who like destination resort living without the need for schmanzy restaurants will like it here.
Speaking of schmanzy restaurants, Dad, Gloria and I met Ed and Judy for dinner one night in Naples. It's always good to see them. (Ed draws out my Republican roots - the Dinosaur Republicans who believe in an efficient and limited government.)
Bottom line: it's great to visit Dad and Gloria and see how active they are. I wish I could travel there much faster than 50 hours on the road or 12 hours by air.
Unfortunately, no boar hunting last week.
 |
| The Birds. The last thing I saw. Period. |
Ave (That's ah vay, not avenue or Oy Vay) Maria may become my new home away from home in Florida. Resort-like facilities where the Sister O'Flaherty Home for Sponging Brothers will soon be under construction.
 |
| Ave Maria Church, Florida |
a. "Snow Birds" = Northerns who come during the season to avoid the snow. Sister O'Flaherty will be in that category.
b. "Snow Flakes" = Northerners who come back and forth.
c. Permanent residents.
d. "Frogs" - people who come here and croak.
The nice resident who imparted this info was a pioneer - there since 2010. Growth is happening, he notes. They now have a gas station and grocery store to go with a couple of modest restaurants among the businesses around the church.
 |
| His Holiness Pope Francis |
Speaking of schmanzy restaurants, Dad, Gloria and I met Ed and Judy for dinner one night in Naples. It's always good to see them. (Ed draws out my Republican roots - the Dinosaur Republicans who believe in an efficient and limited government.)
Bottom line: it's great to visit Dad and Gloria and see how active they are. I wish I could travel there much faster than 50 hours on the road or 12 hours by air.
May 12 - 16, 2014
"Ave" is Latin for "Hail."
No comments:
Post a Comment