PINE LAKE AND OTHER WATER

PINE LAKE AND OTHER WATER  

By Duncan 

If you are following along on my road trip, you will know I have found shelter on the west side of Florida with my Personal and Very Close Friend, Tom Morookian. So let’s put a French accent on his dwelling and call it, “Chez Morookian.” Tom lives in a gated community about nine miles north of the Caloosahatchee River, in North Fort Myers. The gated community is called Magnolia Landing Golf Resort.

By the way, the river nine miles south of Magnolia Landing is a river named after the Calusa Indians. Hatchee in the Seminole language means “River.” So, loosely translated, the Caloosahatchee River means, “Indian River” or “River of Indians?” Hey, I’m not trying to rewrite history here. So, in reality the Caloosahatchee doesn’t need the word river behind it. Calling the Caloosahatchee a river would be redundant.   

The Caloosahatchee (a mile wide) divides Fort Myers from North Fort Myers. As you can see, the Caloosahatchee is a good size body of water. Yes, there are two bridges both named the Edison Bridge. It allows automobile traffic to flow to and from from Fort Myers to North Fort Myers. 

If you're not aware, the bridges are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) the inventor of the electric light bulb. He lived in Fort Myers and had his laboratories in Fort Myers. 

The City Fathers wanted the first first wooden bridge (1931) to be a toll bridge. The Federal Government said, “Na, Na, Greedy City Fathers, we will not allow the bridge to be part of Highway 41 if you make it a toll bridge.” 

So, they had to shake down other pockets for the money to build the first bridge across the river. In 1992 and 1993 they built the current bridges. (55 feet off the water) The old wooden bridge (1931 Bridge) then caught fire and burned. No one seems to know how the wooden bridge caught fire, perhaps it was an accident when the City Fathers found out the cost of removing the bridge? Now, listen to me starting a rumor. 

I remember Christmas Day 2019, putting the top down on the “Mean Yellow” and driving across the Edison Bridge thinking I had died and gone to heaven.There was nothing open in Fort Myers Christmas day except a small sports bar on a back street that was serving a free ham dinner with all the fixings. Again, what luck to find people who are happy and enjoying life. This truly was a paradise.   

Okay enough about the difference between North Fort Myers and Fort Myers. Yes, Magnolia Landing was the community I lived in for five years. (2014-2019) But I’m back for a visit and there are several activities that Tom wants me to attend. 

One is Garage Guys. “Garage Guys” started with one man who opened a lawn chair and sat in the warmth of the winter Florida sun and drank a cold one or two. His neighbor across the street yelled at him and asked, “What-cha doing?” 

“What the hell does it look like?” 

“Mind if I join ya?” 

“Bring over your lawn chair and a few beers.” 

Thus started the tradition of “Garage Guys.” 

So, Garage Guys is on the agenda. Also, the Tuesday Morning Pine Lakes Country Club breakfast is also on the agenda. After our drunken birthday party last night, I will admit I drank a little too much wine. Tom wanted to go to the Pine Lakes Country Club for breakfast by 8:00 AM. Of course, I said, 8:00 AM?  

Bruce, (Gray Sweater) Randy, (Red Sweater)  

Every Tuesday morning these guys from Magnolia Landing Golf Resort drive across highway 41 to have breakfast at the Pine Lakes Country Club dining room. Why not have breakfast in their own Magnolia Landing ClubHouse? Because Magnolia Landing is only open for lunch and doesn't do breakfast. There seems to be a stigma that only the people who live in a resort community are allowed to use the amenities. 

Pine Lakes seems to have a little different policy. Keep in mind the demographics of these gated communities are mainly older adults. Maybe you have heard the phrase, “God’s waiting room.” Below is the age demographics of Pine Lakes Country Club.        

A Little math reveals that 396 people or 75% of the Pine Lakes community are fifty-five years or older. And of course, there is a line from a Jerry Seinfeld program that has been used many, many times. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that!”   

Tom Morookian - Phil Fugere 

Later in the day, Phil Fugere joined Tom Morrokian and myself for a chat in Tom’s living room. Phil has lived in Magnolia Landing for some time. When I first met Phil his lovely wife was living in the northeast with their grandkids. Phil would come down to my home lonely, and depressed, full of self doubt, and would walk into the house unannounced.  Unannounced means, he doesn’t knock on the door, he just comes in. He heads for the refrigerator and helps himself to a beer. Then as he opens the beer, and drinks, then he would tell me I need to refill the frig. 

“Duncan, you’re running low on beer.”

I always had to smile, because I personally don’t like the taste of beer. I don’t drink beer, but I stock a few bottles for my pals.

Well, Phil is a professional beer drinker. I love to watch his delicate ballet footsteps from my front door, to the kitchen, which is more like a slow methodical trot. All he needs is a tu-tu to punctuate his dance steps. I’m not saying Phil is light in the loafers, don’t get me wrong. The moment he opens the refrigerator door and reaches into the cold crevasse of my Whirlpool, and closes the door, his technique is unparalleled. He then opens the bottle and raises it to his lips in one symphonic crescendo. Ludwig van Beethoven would be proud. Phil must have lots of practice. Hell, I know he drank a lot of my beer!!! 

Tom and Phil and others, who don’t want to be mentioned, would make our monthly lunch trip to The Wing House in downtown Fort Myers. I’m not sure why we went to this place on a regular basis. Perhaps it was the food.   

Call it a pilgrimage to a sacred place. One has got to get out of the house once in a while and see how the rest of the world is living. Let’s face it, not all pilgrimages are spiritual, some pilgrimages deal with other kinds of devotion. Take this sandwich I’m holding in my hands, heavenly!

That's it for this addition of a road trip. Tomorrow we do a new restaurant in North Fort Myers called Rosies. There is lots of buzz about it, and we are going to check it out.  

   

MAGNOLIA LANDING

MAGNOLIA LANDING 

By Duncan

Spring Break, 2010, I’m  looking at the Atlantic Ocean from a 9th floor balcony, in Pompano Beach, Florida. The weather is fantastic, the air is clean, fresh, the breeze cool and refreshing. My Indiana winter clothes are gone. I’m wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and flip flops. There came a point when I ask myself,     

WHY CAN’T I LIVE LIKE THIS EVERYDAY? 

One should never ask themselves a question like that, when “one” is on their third glass of red-wine. And the answer to the question is, I can live anywhere I want!  All I need to do is decide. I simply had to decide? Is this lifestyle what I really want at this point in my life? 

It’s not as easy a decision as you might think. First and foremost, what about family? How are they going to feel about me moving a thousand miles away? I would have to leave my job, when do I tell them I am leaving? (If I do leave) How long would it take to sell my home? (If I decided to move.)

As I’m sipping a cheap bottle of “red” from my stemmed glass, more and more questions keep coming to mind. The reality of moving to Florida has never crossed my mind. I was stationed in Homestead, Florida for three years with the United States Air Force back in the 60’s. Homestead was south of Miami and north of the Florida Keys. 

But I don’t remember thinking I want to live in Florida the rest of my life. As I recall, I could not get out of Florida fast enough. Or was it, I wanted to be unshackled from the rules and regulations of the Strategic Air Command, SACs spit and polish military life style. Well, whether I wanted to get military over with or I wanted to get back to civilian life, living in Florida was not on the bucket list during the 60’s. 

Duncan - Jack Maynard - Tampa, Florida

Sure, I vacationed in Florida from time to time. My very close and personal friend, Jack Maynard and his wife Martha moved to Tampa from Indianapolis and invited me to come down during New Year to visit them for a few days. That was the early 2000s. But again, while I looked forward to my yearly Tampa visits, I had no desire to move to Florida full time. So, why all of sudden do I consider living in Florida important now? 

There might be several factors that come into play when thinking about moving to Florida. One, could be the weather. No, I’m not talking about the Florida weather, but the Indiana weather. At some point, I became really tired of cold weather. The weather seemed to wear me down. It’s depressing at times. Overcast most of January and February, cold, and wind. Another way of saying it is, I made the Indiana winters a bigger deal than what the Indiana weathers are. From November to April, I convinced myself I was done with winter. One of my justifications for thinking about moving to Florida. 

The other reason to move to Florida is not as clear. Could it have been the idea of “starting a new life” in a new place. Could it be the pioneering spirit deep down in my gut? I didn’t realize at the time, I might be deranged. You know, load up the buckboard and push the team of horses to a new land? I guess “derangement” could be part of the reason I wanted to move to Florida.

During the summer of 2012, I drove to Florida to figure out where to live. There was a community I was told to check out by several people, including my own son, Scott. I was told I needed to visit The Villages. So, I drove down, and I rented a Villa in The Villages. I approached a Realtor to get a feel for the homes for sale. 

Looking back, I was very impressed with the place. I was thinking, “This is the place for me.” But as a year dragged on, I got to reading about The Villages and started to get cold feet about living there. The following year I decided that if I was going to live in Florida I needed to be as far south and as close to the water as I could afford. 

I started looking at homes for sale in different places on-line. I drove down again and went up and down the west coast. From Marco Island, north through Naples, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, all the way up to Venice. I decided that Fort Myers was about as close to Indianapolis as it gets. I contacted a Realtor and was introduced to Magnolia Landing, in North Fort Myers. 

It was a brand new home. Just built, and the people who built it decided to pull out at the last minute. I was shown the home and loved it. So, I made the big “decision” to buy it. I was taking care of my aging father, and had to figure out how to get George to Florida too. The home had three bedrooms and a library. Perfect for my father and ourselves. Life is good. 

From 2014 to 2019 I lived in North Fort Myers. I was blessed with lots of friends. During this period, Dad passed in 2018, and in 2019, I made the decision to return to Indianapolis. Yes, all the things I complained about in Indianapolis, I was returning to restart my life all over again.

I never thought I would be returning to Florida. Little did I realize that my Florida friends would say, “Hey if you're in the area, stop by and let’s party.” I received enough “Let’s party” invitations so I decided to return for short visits in January or February. Now it’s almost an annual tradition. Hey, doors open and all I do is walk through the doors. 

The Front Gate at Magnolia Landing 

I approached the gate guard in my “Mean Yellow” and I was an instant give-a-way. 

“Duncan, are you back for good or are you here for a visit.” 

The gate cross bar went up and I was once again in Magnolia Landing headed for Tom Morookian’s home. I consider Magnolia Landing a special place. I spent five years of my life in this place. I took care of my father till he reached ninety-nine. He passed peacefully in our home. He asked me not to put him in a nursing home and I was pleased to be able to meet his wishes. So, Magnolia Landing is special to me. 

Now, it’s time to live my life. I don’t know when it happened, but I became the parent and dad became the “child.” It’s interesting what passes through your mind when your father passes before your eyes. You know it’s coming, and the Last couple of days happen fast. Did I do everything I could for my father, did I tell him enough he was loved. Yes, there are some good memories in Magnolia Landing. 

I pulled up in front of Tom’s home and there were lots of cars sitting on the curb. The garage door is open, so I walk into the home unannounced. Lo and behold there is a birthday party in progress. 

 

Danielle Lecavalier, Gerry Lecavlier, Mark Robinson, Tom Morookian, Cherish. 

Mark Robinson at the head of the table, is in Florida because his father Gary Robinson passed and is taking care of his arrangements. Gary Robinson (Mark’s Dad) was very close to Tom Morookian. It’s Mark's birthday, thus the birthday party. Danielle and Gerry were also very close friends. Cherish was Gary’s home caretaker. She was with Gary at the end of Gary’s life. Yes, I also knew Gary, and we had lunch together many times. 

This party went into the wee hours of the morning. Tomorrow we will pick up the story of Magnolia Landing. I’ll be here for a couple of days, maybe longer than the “Three Day Rule.” We have new restaurants to visit and other gated communities to see.   

FACE TO FACE

FACE TO FACE

By Duncan

“For English, press one; for Spanish, press two. Leave your name and telephone number, the last four of your social security number, and why you are calling. If you are contemplating suicide, call this 800 number. If you need immediate care, call this 800 number; if you're calling about your bill, call this number; for rescheduling, call this number. Leave a message, and we will call you back. MAYBE! 

I was called a salesman. After college and the military, I applied for a job with a radio station, WIFE-AM, in Indianapolis. I wanted to be a star on the radio. However, in my face-to-face interview with the station manager, Jack Marcellus, I was told he would hire me on the spot. I was excited until I realized he saw me as a “Time Salesman,” not an “Air Personality.” I took the job anyway. Why? 

There is an old joke about a man who worked in the circus for 40 years. He followed the elephants around, picking up their droppings. A reporter noticed the man and asked how long he had been doing his job. 

“40 Years.” 

“Don’t you want to do something else in life besides this?” 

“What, and give up show business?”  

My job at WIFE-AM was to call on businesses face-to-face and convince their business that it was good business to advertise on the WIFE-AM (13.10) radio station. Cold calls are what we called them back in the day. This means I was asked to leave their business more often than I was allowed to pitch my product. I was starting to feel like a Jehovah’s Witness. 

I thought it would be easier than this. The station was owned by Don Burden. They required a sales meeting every morning at 8:00 AM. Then they had a sales meeting at 5:00 PM the same day. Monday through Friday. On Saturday, I was required to attend a sales meeting beginning at 9:00 AM. Needless to say, I didn’t last long as a Time Salesman for WIFE-AM. This just seemed a little too much, “face to face.”   

DON BURDEN - OWNER WIFE-AM RADIO STATION (Early 60s) 

Later, as a salesman, I learned another lesson. You can’t make the sale unless you are talking to the decision-maker. And, of course, the one rule a lot of new salesmen like me had to learn was to ask for the order/sale.   

So, there you have some of the best advice you can get if you want to be a salesman. Oh, and other rules I learned as I traveled the highways and byways of business. This one comes from the Real Estate industry. About 20% of the Realtors sell 80% of the homes.

And, of course, 80% of the Realtors sell the other 20%. That could be true for a lot of sales teams. However, face-to-face communication is old hat these days. 

Where am I going with this? January in Indiana is a little on the dull side. It may be that way where you live, too. So, how do you shake off the overcast and cool, rainy days of winter in Indiana? I have always been blessed with “Doors Opening To Me.” I have some lunches scheduled in a few days that I’m looking forward to. Face-to-face lunches, where you talk to a real person. Plus, people want me to join them in warm, far-off places, too. 

So, let's think positively about the next few weeks. Rodney sent me a message and said, 

Rodney (Digital Rodney) 

“When are you having lunch with me, face to face? You have lunch with everyone else in the world!” 

DUNCAN - RODNEY (DIGITAL RODNEY) - TSAREFF (SHOOTER)  

Rodney is a lovely fellow with whom I used to ride motorcycles nationwide. I discovered he now lives in New London, North Carolina. Of course, he wants me to come to New London for lunch? I looked up New London on Google Maps. Google says nine hours, almost ten. I went a step further; I looked up the population of London. (2021) 616 people. (2024) 637 people. 

I asked Google another question. Google, show me the restaurants in New London. He lives in the boondocks except for the Bait Shop and a few churches.   

The other big draw of New London, North Carolina, Rodney is excited about. There is a motel whose claim to fame is Mae West slept there. No, Rodney did not tell me the day, the night or the year Mae West slept in the motel. And Rodney assures me he knows the guy who owned the motel, and he could get me the room Mae West slept in. How in the world can I pass up an opportunity like that? 

JIM GENTRY - Jacksonville, Florida. 

Then, I was invited to Jacksonville, Florida. In the early '70s, Jim and his girlfriend traveled on Interstate 465, which circles Indianapolis. A truck in front of him had an automobile engine in the back.

The truck driver swerved for some reason, and the engine came off the back of the truck into the windshield of Jim’s vehicle. Needless to say, Jim took the brunt of the accident.

He has been in a wheelchair and hospital bed for the rest of his life. He calls me regularly and asks me to stop by and visit him If I'm in Florida. So, I will stop and enjoy a few minutes with my good friend, Jim. (Face to face.) 

Mr. Garrity has called and invited me to join him in Hollywood, Florida. He has been in this area of Florida before. Hollywood is south of Fort Lauderdale and north of Miami on the east coast. He has sent me pictures of the beaches and suggested I join him for a few days. These pictures are to encourage me to come to Florida? The beaches are certainly not face-to-face.     

After enjoying Hollywood for a few days, I must visit Sebring, Florida, and see a Gal Pal for lunch. Nancy and Alan live in Fishers, Indiana, in the summer and Sebring in the winter. Because Nancy is always on the go, it’s hard to pin her down for lunch. I’m hopeful on this trip. 

NANCY - ALAN 

Now, it’s off to my old stomping grounds. North Fort Myers. As most of you know, I lived in a gated community named Magnolia Landing for five years. And in the five years that I lived in Magnolia Landing, I made many friends. So I will be staying with Tom for a few days.  

Tom is enjoying a read on the couch. 

After a few days, it will be time for me to head back to the house. The trip back to Indianapolis in “Mean Yellow” is a two-day hard drive. One thousand miles divided by two five hundred mile days. I might just take another day and see what I might see. See something else? Stop along the way? We shall see. This adventure (Road Trip) begins at the end of the month.