Sunday Stories: Florida Is Weird, But…

Florida is weird.

I’ve lived in Orlando just about as long as I lived in South Louisiana, so I feel entitled to tell the truth about my state. When I hear of some bizarre event in the news, I know it happened in Florida before the announcer even mentions the location.

I heard author Carl Hiaasen speak years ago. He is a South Florida native, longtime journalist for the Miami Herald, and prolific writer of crime novels filled with zany characters who find themselves in ridiculous situations.

After being introduced, Hiaasen walked onto the stage with a black binder overflowing with newspaper clippings, printed pages, and notes scribbled on bits of paper.

He said people regularly tell him how creative he is in inventing the characters and situations in his novels. “I’m not that good. There’s no way I could come up with the quirky people and outlandish events in my books. I get them from here,” Hiaasen said, patting the over-stuffed binder.

For the next ninety minutes, he told one funny story after another, all taken from articles written about real people and real circumstances, most of which originated in Florida.

Yes, Florida is weird, but it’s also wonderful.

Last Tuesday night, out of the corner of my eye, I saw something bright in the dark sky. “Bob, look, it’s a rocket.” We ran onto the porch in time to see SpaceX’s Falcon rocket send a robotic Dragon capsule on its way to the space station. So cool.

Once, years ago, I left on an early morning flight out of Orlando International Airport. A few minutes after takeoff, the captain announced that the Space Shuttle Endeavour had just launched from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, and if we looked out the right side of the plane, we might see it. Nothing. I felt so disappointed. Then, the captain tilted the plane, and we saw the shuttle go up right next to us. I’m sure it wasn’t that close, but it certainly looked like it was. That was a moment I’ll never forget.”

Yes, Florida is weird, but it’s also wonderful in so many ways.

As writers, we’re often told to write what we know. I agree, and knowing our home in all its glory and craziness is our material. What story can you write about where you live? What is the strangest story you have about your home turf? What amazing tale can you tell us about your environs? Tell us about it in the comments section below.

Remember, the only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all. Until next time, happy writing.

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Catherine Farrar
1 year ago

I once lived in a monk’s cell at the Monastery of the Good Shepherd in Orange City, Florida…without the monks. In the 1960s and ’70s the monastery was home to a boarding school for around 60-70 children and adolescents in trouble. I wanted to be there because, as a student teacher, I had seen these same kinds of kids in mental institutions where nothing really helped them change or grow. They stayed until someone fostered/adopted them (rare for teenagers) or they aged out of the system. The school I was at was an intentional community (read commune). We had no… Read more »

Tiffany
Tiffany
1 year ago

I’m sure you have all heard about the Flint city water crisis. That’s where I grew up. Just 9 miles east of the big city of Flint, Michigan in a town called Davison I come from when General Motors was HUGE in town and I come from a family who was proud to say they worked at GM. As a child I remember driving to Flint – there was a lot of great things and opportunities in Flint. Shopping was big as was the IMA arena where many small league hockey games, basketball games and shows were. The Shrine Circus… Read more »

Lou Martindale
Lou Martindale
1 year ago
Reply to  Tiffany

Tiffany, I was born in 1943. I lived in Flint until I was 16 and my parents moved us to Albuquerque, New Mexico. My father worked for Chevrolet Division of General Motors. We lived close enough to the factory that he could walk to work. I remember it just as you mentioned. The circus coming to town was always a big event. I remember getting out of school to go to the circus. I still have cousins living in Flint. You are right it is a shadow of its former self. So sad.

Betty Patterson
1 year ago

Until I retired and moved to the Pacific Northwest, I had lived almost all my life in Pennsylvania. One morning, shortly after I had moved here, my dog ran to the dining-room windows barking frantically. I followed him to the dining room to see if I could determine why he was so upset. I heard a low rumble, but couldn’t determine where it was coming from. Looking out the wall of windows starting about 18 inches from the floor and extending to the ceiling, I was scanning the area when a movement caught my eye. I turned to see the… Read more »

Mary Clark
1 year ago

I grew up in a little known spot about 10 miles south of downtown St. Louis, MO called Jefferson Barracks and it is the first military post west of the Mississippi. Built in 1846.. The government dedicated a lot of land to this base and after WWII (the base became inactive in 1947) the government built apartments for GI’s and their families. My parents lived there until my Dad built our house in a neighborhood about a half a mile from the apartment. This was a very unique area to grow up in because at one time the government owned… Read more »

Catherine Farrar
1 year ago

What a wonderland. I can see it. Thank you for sharing your natural habitat with us.

Geri
Geri
1 year ago

We live at 7000 feet in the Beartooth Mountains, in a log cabin on a ranch, that was built in 1900. We are the only residents to live on Highway 212 in Wyoming. That’s a strong statement. We have come to be content living in nature and learning how to just go with the flow. We lose electricity often, our phone lines snap and we find them in creek bed, we have torrential downpours that happen without notice, we get feet of snow at a time. Last summer we lost our bridge in the 500-year Yellowstone flood. That bridge was our connection to Hwy 212… Read more »

Mary Clark
1 year ago
Reply to  Geri

Great story – I can see the different animals all over the ranch – thanks for sharing.

Norma Beasley
1 year ago
Reply to  Geri

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

JOHN ROCHE
1 year ago

If I tell you now, it’s gonna take a story away. You’re just gonna have to wait.

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