Open Space Restoration combines nature with fiction, so to get the most out of each writing here is a brief trackline for this story:
The Wood Stork, Indigo Snake and Gopher Tortoise are protected species in Florida. Coco Plum, Muscadine Grapes and Palmetto Seeds are found in the wild and are edible. There is a Walgreens being built in Loxahatchee. The Wood Storks actually did roost on occasion in the pines at this site. On the fiction side of things, Anna is all made up, but Ed is a true blue friend and would help Anna if she were real. The unemployment rate in Florida to the best of my knowledge is reported around 10%, the tax numbers and the looking for work numbers are real. Cissy is based on the song by the Long Beds, Click on it and give it a listen. Enjoy The Outdoors……Bart
Anna walks along the asphalt sidewalk, every once in a while she will scuff at the pine needles scraping carbon across the top of the asphalt. The economy must be turning around she hopes to herself as she can smell diesel and pine combined with the sound of crackling trees being ripped out by the back hoe in the lot across the street.
A “Coming Soon” Walgreens sign is all that stands vertical as the pines have been horizontally stacked and separated.
Liked the sight of wood storks roosting in the pines more than a five and dime.
Thirty-two dollars is all she’s got till her husband Western Unions’ more cash. Walking out of the grocery store she can smell the cold front pushing down from the north, the air a little more crisp, she wonders to herself if it will push her husband down too. She misses him and wishes him home. The newspapers say that the unemployment rate is around 10 percent, and although she hasn’t had her nose pushed up the inside of a text book for about 15 years she can still do the math. 6 million people file federal taxes in Florida annually, 1 million are now unemployed, that puts the unemployment rate in FLA around 16%.
Ed catches up with Anna as she walks up her driveway and shows off his catch from yesterday, a nice 3lb. Large Mouth Bass taken out of the JW Corbett Wildlife Management Area . “Its for you Anna, maybe it will help to stretch the groceries a bit,” said Ed. ” How many can I eat in a week from the Corbett,” Anna replies. “One, unless your pregnant then your out, and you’ll have a barrel full of explaining to do to your ole man,” Ed hollers back as he digs in the back of his pick up for bucket full of
coco plums and muscadine grapes for Anna. “Don’t be leaving me any of those palmetto seeds again,” Anna yells, “as last time I checked I did not have a prostrate and if I want to taste vomit then I’ll drink a bundle of Old Number 7 Tennessee Whiskey .” “No worries sis,” answers Ed. ” Don’t be calling me Cissy! That is my sisters’ name, and it just hurts too much to know I have not seen her since Beaux Bridge Louisana,” fires back Anna.
Hey Anna, “did you see the new Walgreens going up, darndest thing they have Indigo Snake signs posted around the peremiter. Have never seen an Indigo Snake in these parts but plenty of Gopher Tortoises,” Ed rolls on as he gets into his Chevy, Anna watches the tail lights dissappear through the trees.
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Click on the Links, hear the Long Beds sing Cissy Moans by clicking on “Cissy”. A great song from a great sounding group.