When Heaven Was at the Corner of East Grand Boulevard and Concord Avenue

 

A fact of my life is that I lived in the wrong day and age - - too late for my enthusiasms. Were I to have planned it myself I'd have been, like Lamont Cranston, a wealthy young man about town in the early 1930s. In my early middle-age I'd have downsized modestly in the early 1940s so as not to present myself ostentatiously during that Time of the Great Depression, to a car such as this 1941 Packard One-Twenty sedan.

Time, after my grandfathers' prime, When long-distance travel here in America was by the trains that I remember and loved, specifically the Pullman Palace Cars that were air-conditioned. 

And also When, days that I wanted to go to Pensacola to visit my brother, I could walk down to the train depot that was here in St Andrews and board for the ride instead of driving.

Well, I got part of that, didn't I -> in my day, if you wanted to go to Dothan or Atlanta, you could ride up on the Bay Line; did it more than once.

... those were the days, my friend, I thought they'd never end ...

but your descendants some generations hence, wanting to go to Newport, Rhode Island for lobster dinner, will be able to go to a transporter booth and beam up electronically. I'd go to Maine that way if possible, rent a car and acquaint myself with the land of my immigrant ancestor Andreas Wäller who, with his family, immigrated here from Germany in the 1700s. There with Linda and Kristen the summer of 2008, I might go again now if the travel started and ended at our Bay Line Depot that was at the intersection of W. 6th Street and West Beach Drive. But never now, having to fly, with changes of planes, or a drive to Jacksonville, Atlanta, or New Orleans to board a train. I'm for travel that's itself a relaxing and fun part of the adventure, as in "getting there is half the fun."

As in "See the USA in your Chevrolet," nomesane? 

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My event of the week is keeping us from church this morning, a post-surgery pain pill for the basil cell nose-job and for the place under my right ear where they cut out the little piece of skin to patch my nose. Our intent is to watch online, to be there from here for the ten-thirty worship service.

Some interesting things kicked off during and because of the covid crisis and some have stuck: working from home, Zoom meetings, going to church online.

Breakfast this morning, the rest of my magic mug of hot & black and a couple of saltine crackers smeared with cream cheese and spooned generously with a mound of black caviar. Life is Good!

RSF&PTL

T90