Some Books Are Not For Sale

“They say there is a Cross City Elite. Growing up some acted like this was true. Giving preference to certain last names. Ignoring the rest of the county. Their kids were told they were "born better." Then headed off to school to let us know. Generational wealth got us bullied. By the best a small town had to offer.”

SchoolBullyingFlorida

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“A newly single friend discovered the Internet. Spent much of the 90s planning double dates. I was a regular plus-one. He would have a different date each night. Mine was always the same. A friend that lived on the way to town. We wouldn't call ahead. Just head over to her place. She'd put on glitter lip gloss and be ready to go. We went on over 20 dates this way. Nights in the backseat sharing Taco Bell. Years pass. She has a question – "With all those dates... were we... dating?" We decide that we probably were. This is just how things work at times. You live your life. Then understand it later.”

YouthDatingFlorida

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“My great-grandfather Delmar Thomas is buried beside his wife Lula now. Mount Horeb Cemetery near Bell, FL. As a kid I fell into a fire ant mound. Delmar rescued me. I cried. Covered in bites. He just laughed. Told me that is how you learn. This is what I learned.”

LearningSouthernFloridaAntsRuralSouthern Gothic

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“Our rural Florida well water had no fluoride. So the state let kids sign up for a monthly treatment. Handed us a small paper cup in the library. It made your mouth tingle. We called it "The Swish." Few used this program. It's not hard to see why. A teacher once told our class I was going "to drink poison." This scared everyone. But I never died.”

HealthTeethFloridaRural Life

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“I grew up in a swamp. All who visit see the savage beauty of the place. Those who stay see more. A deep connection. Roots that have grown together for generations. Once as a teen I went with family to a fish fry and sing at Scrub Creek Baptist Church off County Road 351. There a teen girl was very friendly until told to stop. We were cousins. She stomped away – "Is everyone here my DAMN cousin?!" Yes, and we are blessed.”

ChurchFamilyFloridaConnection With PeopleRuralSwamp

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“Mythologist Joseph Campbell once spent 5 years living in a shack in rural New York where he read 9 hours a day. I did something similar as I was in middle school but I suspect Campbell read much better books. Most of my books were acquired at the flea market in Chiefland, FL where a hoarse voiced lady sold musty paperbacks 5 for $1.”

ReadingFloridaMiddle SchoolRuralFlea Market

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“Old maps make sense to me. With their strange collections of obscure landmarks. It's how we all got around when young. An hour to Gainesville. Turn off where they have the livestock fair. Then past an airport owned by my stepdad's family. A Rotunda. Tiny Horses. Dani's house. Jonesville didn't have much back then. Rosie's Bar and a Lil' Champ. Still when we saw the sign we knew we were close. "HAY!" Screamed by a face on the side of a store. We'd all yell it as we passed. For good luck. Later that sign was stolen. This created suspicions. Some asked if we had taken it. No. But we should have.”

YouthFloridaRoad TripLandmarks

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