A place that I hold more dear than you can imagine is facing a storm surge of 8 to 12 feet and winds of 140 mph from Hurricane Ian. It's Little Gasparilla Island on the northwestern edge of Charlotte Harbor, north of Fort Myers. Oh the memories that spring from that tiny spit of land, memories spanning decades. Every glorious trip there …
A place that I hold more dear than you can imagine is facing a storm surge of 8 to 12 feet and winds of 140 mph from Hurricane Ian. It's Little Gasparilla Island on the northwestern edge of Charlotte Harbor, north of Fort Myers. Oh the memories that spring from that tiny spit of land, memories spanning decades. Every glorious trip there with family and friends reminded me of the Old Florida of my so-distant past, a past before Disney triggered a tsunami of development and tourists.
The one solace tonight is that I know the federal and state government will do everything possible to help Florida residents. (At least DeSantis took Biden's call.) Let's hope that this unfolding tragedy will awake climate-change skeptics to the existential threat of global warming. Yes, hurricanes have always posed a serious threat, but now they're so much more fearsome.
Michael, it is a wonderful place. Let us hope it survives this massive storm.
I have the same feelings about " old Florida" as you do and get glimpses of it on the less traveled roads once in awhile ( between the ubiquitous housing construction!)
And, yes, DeSantis took Biden's call but he has yet to mention or thank him or FEMA or anything other than " other states" helping and Florida's own first responders.
Most people have taken the preparation seriously. All we can do now is hunker down and go through it. Hopefully the good preparation will help keep our human injury low and damage manageable.
DeSantis and those like him will never acknowledge the help of the federal government. It's a reflection of their startling lack of basic human values.
I am not quite as gracious as our president, although I am very proud of him. I would wish for an extremely small but powerful storm with two eyes, one for Mar a Lago and the other for the Tallahassee governor's office..
Thanks for personalizing the storm for me, Michael, as I consider all (er, most) who post here friends. I know little first-hand about Florida, being a humid-hating Californian, but now you've brought home to me the beauty of a special little place and its people, and I feel far less detached. I'll pray for the people of Florida, yes, even DeSantis. God knows, he needs it.
Hi MaryB of Pasadena, I'm a humid-hating Californian too who never had the slightest wish to be in Florida, no matter what I heard about the turquoise waters and colorful marine life. Now that Trump lives there, and the people seem to support the likes of De Santis, I'm happy to be 3000 miles away! Joe Biden is a man of dignity and class. He sees himself as the President of the UNITED States of America representing ALL the people, whether they voted for him or not. He is a True Patriot! Most of the people and especially the land don't base their lives on who's President or Governor. They base their lives on family, friends and the land, the weather! The way I see it, President Biden wants to make life better for All people, and the land better for All to live upon. I just don't understand people who twist and politicize any of it! For DeSantis to not even show a shred of gratitude for the generosity of our President is despicable!
I have been in Florida once on the east coast and once was enough. I did enjoy visiting my cousin and spending time with her and her husband. But we were not impressed by what we saw. And oh yes, the airline charter company who helped DeSantis out is based here in Hillsboro, Oregon, although they have an office in Florida.
Thank you for sharing this jewel with us and for including the link. I sincerely hope that it survives Ian. I have friends who have decided to ride out the hurricane in Tampa. My thoughts and fears are with them.
Looks like an absolutely beautiful place. Hoping for the best for your beloved island and for Sanibel, Captiva and all of the vulnerable communities facing this storm.
Its beautiful, Michael but sure looks very very vulnerable to any storm surge and so do the areas around it. At this time the residents have to be really worried.
A place that I hold more dear than you can imagine is facing a storm surge of 8 to 12 feet and winds of 140 mph from Hurricane Ian. It's Little Gasparilla Island on the northwestern edge of Charlotte Harbor, north of Fort Myers. Oh the memories that spring from that tiny spit of land, memories spanning decades. Every glorious trip there with family and friends reminded me of the Old Florida of my so-distant past, a past before Disney triggered a tsunami of development and tourists.
The one solace tonight is that I know the federal and state government will do everything possible to help Florida residents. (At least DeSantis took Biden's call.) Let's hope that this unfolding tragedy will awake climate-change skeptics to the existential threat of global warming. Yes, hurricanes have always posed a serious threat, but now they're so much more fearsome.
As for that tiny spit of land, see it here (lower right corner): https://www.therondavel.net/the-island/where-is-little-gasparilla-island/
Michael, it is a wonderful place. Let us hope it survives this massive storm.
I have the same feelings about " old Florida" as you do and get glimpses of it on the less traveled roads once in awhile ( between the ubiquitous housing construction!)
And, yes, DeSantis took Biden's call but he has yet to mention or thank him or FEMA or anything other than " other states" helping and Florida's own first responders.
Most people have taken the preparation seriously. All we can do now is hunker down and go through it. Hopefully the good preparation will help keep our human injury low and damage manageable.
DeSantis and those like him will never acknowledge the help of the federal government. It's a reflection of their startling lack of basic human values.
I am not quite as gracious as our president, although I am very proud of him. I would wish for an extremely small but powerful storm with two eyes, one for Mar a Lago and the other for the Tallahassee governor's office..
Thanks for personalizing the storm for me, Michael, as I consider all (er, most) who post here friends. I know little first-hand about Florida, being a humid-hating Californian, but now you've brought home to me the beauty of a special little place and its people, and I feel far less detached. I'll pray for the people of Florida, yes, even DeSantis. God knows, he needs it.
Hi MaryB of Pasadena, I'm a humid-hating Californian too who never had the slightest wish to be in Florida, no matter what I heard about the turquoise waters and colorful marine life. Now that Trump lives there, and the people seem to support the likes of De Santis, I'm happy to be 3000 miles away! Joe Biden is a man of dignity and class. He sees himself as the President of the UNITED States of America representing ALL the people, whether they voted for him or not. He is a True Patriot! Most of the people and especially the land don't base their lives on who's President or Governor. They base their lives on family, friends and the land, the weather! The way I see it, President Biden wants to make life better for All people, and the land better for All to live upon. I just don't understand people who twist and politicize any of it! For DeSantis to not even show a shred of gratitude for the generosity of our President is despicable!
I have been in Florida once on the east coast and once was enough. I did enjoy visiting my cousin and spending time with her and her husband. But we were not impressed by what we saw. And oh yes, the airline charter company who helped DeSantis out is based here in Hillsboro, Oregon, although they have an office in Florida.
God save LGI. 🙏🏻
Praying for your precious spot and for all Floridians, Michael.
Thank you for saying what so many of us feel about the Disneyfication of Florida. Sadly, the Old Florida is nothing but a memory now...
Not everyone has such memories and yet it is sad to know they are now distant.
Thank you for sharing this jewel with us and for including the link. I sincerely hope that it survives Ian. I have friends who have decided to ride out the hurricane in Tampa. My thoughts and fears are with them.
Looks like an absolutely beautiful place. Hoping for the best for your beloved island and for Sanibel, Captiva and all of the vulnerable communities facing this storm.
HOPE! For the beautiful Captiva, too.
Oh Michael, you moved my concern for Florida from general to very specific. May this special place survive and if needed, be restored.
Its beautiful, Michael but sure looks very very vulnerable to any storm surge and so do the areas around it. At this time the residents have to be really worried.