Where an old queer like me comes from.

I was born and raised in Central Florida.
... Marion county Ocala to be specific.

Talked to my father today and he is a very old man, pushing 76

He has a friend that owns property In Ocklawah.... I haven't been there since I was about 14 years old.

This man who is an old friend of my father, has a mother who is now 105 years old.

After talking to my father today.... I had a very intense desire to go and return to this property. Surprised that my father's friend was still alive...

Much less that his mother is 105 years old and she still lives at home and he takes care of her. That is so incredible.

I am in my mid-40s and the last time I saw this man, I was probably 13 years old.

I was just amazed to hear that he is still alive and that he has a mother that is actually still alive.

I don't know what to say except that it's amazing that people can live that long.

 

Of course I won't mention the man's name..
But if I showed up and told him that I am the son of so-and-so.... I would be as welcome as any old family would.

Though these days I live about 200 miles south.

This was a magical place to grow up... Hundreds of acres of old Florida near the river with cattle everywhere.

 

Guns were just a part of life growing up here. You turned your kid out loose to go run around with a single shot 22... And told them to be home by dark.

That's just how it was back in those days.
We all had fun with guns and no one ever got injured.

I'm telling you people it's not the guns... If guns were the problem then we would have never come home before dark.... But we made it home before dark every night of our lives

 

This was the real boondocks back in those days. Probably not so much anymore but you might still be able to go and Hunt some shrooms!

Back in these days I was too young to be hunting shrooms but they were shrooms everywhere... Unbeknownst to me.....

This was the time and place I grew up in and I didn't even know how fortunate I was to have spent my childhood here.

 

A time and place that I can never go back or return to.

Where did you grow up and what has happened in the 30 years or so that have passed since?

 

It would be super awesome to take my dirt bike up there and ride these days.

100 + acres...... Just ride

 

I have 50 plus acres that I can ride here in DeSoto county that my boss man owns. It's just a great place to go.

 

A time and place long ago. It's hard to even remember it at this point.

 

Queer?

Queer how, like you eat grits without shrimp?

l been to Gator .Joes before it changed hands last. Not as much grease in the menu but it still works with the bar and the news clippings on the walls.