Monday, December 18, 2017

Monday, December 18, 2017

Tonight's picture was taken in December of 2002. This was Mattie's first Christmas. Though he had no idea what was going on as he was perplexed by having a tree in the living room and decorations every where. Yet I wanted to capture that moment in time and literally dragged Mattie's high chair over in front of the tree and snapped a photo. I am so glad that I did! In so many ways I have a visual documentation of Mattie's life from the special occasions and milestones to every day activities. 






Quote of the day: Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. 
~ Mary Ellen Chase


On Monday, we spent the day in Key West. I was unable to write the blog last night because the Viking Sky lost all connectivity. A rather scary notion. I have been writing the blog daily since 2008, so it was very unusual for me NOT to post last night. However, I got up this morning to find Wifi working, and naturally went straight for the blog. Of course, the time change helped for me to do this. We were supposed to turn the clock back last night and forgot, so I got an extra hour to myself, enabling me to do the blog!

We took a three hour walking tour yesterday of Key West. This is the Custom House which currently serves as the Key West Museum of Art & History. Exhibits include local history, famous personalities including Ernest Hemingway, maritime history, and works by local artists.

A 25-foot-high bronze sculpture (entitled, Embracing Peace), portraying the world-famous 1945 image of a sailor and nurse locked in an immortalized kiss taken in New York’s Times Square on V-J Day 1945. The installation was staged in conjunction with the centennial anniversary of Naval Air Station Key West and The Key West Art & Historical Society’s upcoming Custom House Museum exhibit “The Navy in Key West.” The two young figures are tantamount to what the Navy’s presence was and still is in Key West,” said Key West Art & Historical Society Curator Cori Convertito. “It helps demonstrate the dedication young people had in helping their country, which was so important to the country’s war efforts and ongoing endeavors towards peace and harmony.”

Since 1890, history has left its mark on the Truman Little White House. Initially, it served as the naval station’s command headquarters during the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. In 1946 the historic building first served as the winter White House of President Harry S. Truman and a site for the Cold War response by later presidents. Today, the Truman Little White House is a public, living, Key West museum as well as a retreat and place of government business by our nation's leaders. 

Truman Annex is both a neighborhood and military installation in Key West. It is where the winter White House for President Harry S. Truman is located from its days as part of the former Naval Station Key West. 

Today this neighborhood is probably the most beautiful and pristine part of the Island. Houses cost about $6 million, and condos in this area go for $3 million.

Many houses in Truman Annex had orchids naturally growing in their front yard!

 A butterfly fence!

 I loved the whimsy of this fence!

This tiny house, actually came over from the Bahamas. It wasn't transported by boat, instead, it floated its way up the Caribbean. It is a remaining reminder of the Caribbean influence in Key West. 

Opened by a pair of free spirits, Suanne and Richard, Blue Heaven has become its own well-known destination in key west. The chickens and cats roaming the premises are almost as famous as the food.

Apparently Ernest Hemingway frequented this restaurant/bar. The now patio dining area was once a boxing ring. Hemingway was a boxer and met his closest friend "Shiner" while boxing. It is said that he knocked Shiner's eye right out of its socket. When Hemingway wasn't writing, it sounded like he was drinking! He also was a referee at the boxing ring at Blue Heaven. 

In my opinion, you have to look through a great deal of tackiness, to see the original beauty that once comprised Key West. The old world architecture still exists, as you can see by this colorful house we passed. 

Ernest Hemingway was an American novelist, short story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his life of adventure and his public image influenced later generations. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the mid-1950s, and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. He published seven novels, six short story collections, and two non-fiction works. Additional works, including three novels, four short story collections, and three non-fiction works, were published posthumously. Many of his works are considered classics of American literature.

This was Hemingway's bedroom. Hemingway had four wives and in actuality lived a sad life. His family and himself suffered with Bipolar Disorder, which eventually led him to kill himself. He was treated for the disease with electroshock, which apparently erased his memory, and he could never write again. 

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum is home to approximately 40-50 polydactyl (six-toed) cats. Cats normally have five front toes and four back toes. About half of the cats at the museum have the physical polydactyl trait but they all carry the polydactyl gene in their DNA, which means that the ones that have 4 and 5 toes can still mother or father six-toed kittens. Most cats have extra toes on their front feet and sometimes on their back feet as well. Sometimes it looks as if they are wearing mittens because they appear to have a thumb on their paw.

Ernest Hemingway was given a white six-toed cat by a ship’s captain and some of the cats who live on the museum grounds are descendants of that original cat, named Snow White. Key West is a small island and it is possible that many of the cats on the island are related. The polydactyl cats are not a particular breed. The trait can appear in any breed, Calicos, Tabbies, Tortoise Shell. White, Black, etc. They vary in shapes, sizes, colors and personalities.

Hemingway named all of his cats after famous people so we follow that same tradition today. Cats are capable of learning and responding to their names, particularly if they have an affectionate relationship with the person who calls them.

This is "Billie Holiday," the cat! She likes to sleep on Hemingway's bed!

Hemingway's pool! He was the first house in Key West to have a pool. Pauline, his second wife, had the pool built while he was away. It cost $20,000 which was unheard of in those days. 

This the famous Duval Street in Key West. From the photo, it looks very quaint and colorful. However, from my perspective, it is hard to believe this street is part of the USA. The street is filled with bars. Literally you can't take two steps without hitting another bar. We saw people heavily drinking by day, so you can get a feeling for the rowdiness at night. 

Drinking and partying are a significant way of life in Key West. There maybe a lot to explain the origin of this, but it is clear Hemingway was one of the biggest fans of this lifestyle. 

Route 1 goes from Key West all the way up to Maine. On one side of the street you can see the start sign and the other side you can see the end sign for Route 1. 

My mom, Peter, and me with the end sign of Route 1. 


We are now at sea today heading to Belize.