Tuesday

We had a good walk on the causeway today, but first we drove to Ace Hardware to buy a plunger. We’ve needed one from time to time. Now, we’re ready.

The air was clear today, about 60% humidity and 70-75 degrees on our morning walk. The high temperature today was 82 degrees. That’s Clearwater in the distance.

I think we’re back to normal now. Yesterday, we were out of it. I didn’t make it to the gym.

When we were at Ace Hardware this morning, a clerk said: “I see you guys on the causeway all the time. Aren’t y’all supposed to be there now?” We laughed and told her we were on our way. It’s amazing how often we hear that. We hardly ever recognize them, but then people look different dressed up as opposed to sweating on the causeway.

We went downtown in the golf cart after lunch and walked around.

It was very comfortable in the shade at Pioneer Park.

We took Toby to the ice cream store without getting him ice cream so that he won’t think that he gets ice cream every time we go downtown.

He adjusted his expectations, as you can see.

The city has stripped, stained, and shellacked all the downtown benches (and painted the arms).

They look nice.

DeSantis has now expanded the “Don’t Say Gay” bill to include all grades in the public school system. No discussion, acknowledgment, or instruction having to do with gays or transgender students allowed. Teachers can be fired for discussing or even acknowledging they have a gay spouse or child. Children of gay parents can’t discuss their families. In addition, he has mandated that school boards remove any books on the subject from libraries. His goal is to erase us and our history because he thinks it will help him win Republican primaries with conservative voters. He’s punishing Disney, an ally of the gay community, for the same reason. And he’s limiting the discussion of racism in the curriculum. For example, schools can talk about the bus boycott but they can’t mention that Rosa Parks was black because it makes her sympathetic and may make a white student feel bad. The administration is removing diversity programs from the universities, calling those programs racist.   

DeSantis says that “Florida is where woke goes to die.” It’s such a stupid thing to say and so unAmerican. Being “woke” means being educated and aware of different people’s experiences. It’s about developing empathy for those who are different from you. It’s an acknowledgment that even though we were all created equal, some of us have been held back, overlooked, or discriminated against. Some of us were born poor, with dark skin, mental illnesses, physical handicaps, addictive personalities, gay, short, left-handed, or any number of differences from the norm. Those differences don’t make us less than, and acknowledging them doesn’t take anything away from those who are normal, whatever that is.

So when I saw the sign above outside the local bookstore, I thought about all the evil things DeSantis is doing. A good country makes room for everyone’s story.

We stopped by Highlander Park for a walk.

Not happy on the way home without ice cream.

We had an awesome chicken salad. John found a package of cooked chicken breast strips at Publix that were BOGO for an easy protein-rich dinner.