Here in Panama City, in Florida’s panhandle, so much is different from Connecticut. I’m having fun noticing all the differences. For example:
Spanish moss and live oaks. They’re both beautiful and ubiquitous. I know that Walt Whitman wrote a poem, “I Saw in Louisiana a Live Oak Growing.” I’ll look it up. If there’s anything sagacious, moving, or otherwise memorable about it, I’ll let you know.
P.S. Not a very long poem. He said that he broke off a twig with a certain number of leaves upon it, and twined around it a little moss, and brought it away, and placed it in sight in his room, [where] it remained to him a curious token, and made him think of manly love.
That might not have been my reaction, but in a way I can see what he means.
And while I’m writing in a botanical vein, I have to mention palm trees! “Cause this is Florida.
Eclectic churches. There are so many. churches here that seem like entities unto themselves, rather than adherents to a larger denomination. I wrote about those yesterday. Here’s another one.
Cash-strappedness. I see more pawn shops here than at home. Like this:
Craving cannabis. Florida hasn’t legalized recreational cannabis yet. But I think it’s coming. Look at all the weed shop wannabees:
I had to look up kratom. Wikipedia said this: “Some people take it for managing chronic pain, for treating opioid withdrawal symptoms, or for recreational purposes.[5][10] The onset of effects typically begins within five to ten minutes and lasts for two to five hours.[5]
Anecdotal reports describe increased alertness, physical energy, talkativeness, sociability, sedation, changes in mood, and pain relief following kratom use at various doses.[10]”
So what’s next? Maybe the arrival of a new sewing table.