“You can’t go home again” ― Thomas Wolfe
Thomas Wolfe was right when he said, “You can’t go home again.” But some of my things can, and their new home will be perfect for everyone.
These things, like the two prints you see above, will be comfortable in the warm Florida sunshine. They were never happy in my dark storage cabinet anyway. Now, in their new home, people will look at them and they’ll look back, pleased. I want that for everyone, even my things.
They belonged to my mother, collected on one of her many trips to Florida. She had lived and worked in Miami Beach in the Roaring Twenties so she always had a fondness for The Sunshine State. These prints were her reminder of delightful times there.
Last December, Joyce and I spent a week at a friend’s cottage in Fernandina Beach. We had recently visited Miami Beach and were shocked by the contrast, both in miles and attitude, between the southern and northern end of my mother’s vacation state. Our visit to Miami Beach felt cosmopolitan and trendy while Fernandina Beach seemed relaxed and much the type of town my mother would have enjoyed.
Wade Kirkland’s home is filled with an eclectic mix of items that fit this relaxed community. It’s a “shabby chic” Cracker House – located within easy walking distance of the historic down town shops and restaurants.
It’s a friendly town with lots of front porches and pets. Plus welcoming neighbors.
Inside, he has several examples of paintings by the Florida Highwaymen, a group of African-American artists who, I’ve now learned, were a popular and prolific group, spawned by the work of A. E. Backus (1906-1990) and other landscape painters around Fort Pierce. Mother’s two prints shown above, one of two palms, and the other of Bok Tower, seemed to be perfect companions for Wade’s other treasures.
Back in Charlotte, I met Wade for coffee and offered my mother’s prints as a Thank You gift. I’m glad he was pleased with them and their story.
“I love them, they are perfect for my cottage in Fern. If I saw them in a shop, I would buy them on the spot. They’re going home now. You will need to visit them often.”
Today my mother’s prints are at their perfect home in Florida. We’ll see them the next time we visit and I’ll get to meet the woman on the wall next to them. I don’t know her, but I think mom would like her.
I am happy.
What things do you have stuck away in some dark spot that would be more comfortable out in the sunshine?
Where do you think they belong, where would they be most happy?
Have you thought about how you want your things to be as happy as you are?
As always, the conversation starts here.
“In the ordinary choices of every day we begin to change the direction of our lives.” – Eknath Easwaran
Epilogue
Join me for a quick tour of downtown Fernandina Beach, it’s all an easy walk from Wade’s cottage. Or, if you’d rather, you can use the bicycles he keeps for guest to peddle into town.
I will make sure a print copy of this particular blog is in the cottage, near your mother’s prints. That way all visitors will know the story and smile.
Wade –
That’s a great idea. Thank you.
I’m glad you like the story and her prints. I know they are happy to be back in their home state. They are proving, “You can go home again – if you choose the right home.”
– Bruce
My take on this: give new life to life that was – and will be again! I’ll check my attic!
Jack –
Perfect. You did that in eleven words and it took me several hundred to tell my story. HaHa.
I think we all have things stuffed away, either in the attic or in our hearts, that need new life.
– Bruce
How very perfect. The prints ended up in the perfect home.
Deborah –
Thanks for being part of the conversation. Yes, this is a multiple win – I’m happy, the prints are happy, Wade’s cottage is happy, and I know my mother would be happy.
Plus I can go for a fun visit.
It would be nice for everyone (and everything) to have the perfect home.
– Bruce
Bruce, while sitting at Wade dining table this evening contemplating my reaction to your mother’s pictures, I thought…besides things “stuck away in some dark spot that would be more comfortable out in the sunlight” we could reach into our souls to find gifts God place there years ago, yet undiscovered. Develop one or two of these and we and others will grow together. God’s developed gifts being joy to this world. Oh, the woman in the 3rd frame is Ma Vynee Oshun Betsch, “the Beach Lady” a legacy of A.L. Lewis creater of Atlantic Beach, Ametia Island. Thanks for your… Read more »
Ben – Thanks for reading my story and for your comment. I hope you are enjoying “Fern” as much as we did. It’s a special spot. I like your idea of reaching into our soul to find gifts God has placed there – I’m sure those gifts are intended for sharing, even if we have forgotten. Our world would be a better place. I’m glad to meet “The Beach Lady,” I know she and mother would have gotten along well. We made it down to American Beach but missed the museum. We’ll do that next time. Ben, please continue following… Read more »