I hear/see people have been concerned about my welfare during the hurricane. I weathered it just fine, in a solid building where I'd been invited by a friend - who then left town, doubting his own sagacity, apparently. I was fine, the place was fine, my place was fine, my instruments are fine, all my important papers are fine - really, not as awful as one might well imagine.
The aftermath has been much worse, dealing with lack of water, electricity, relief from the heat, and piles upon piles of debris - trees, branches, and everywhere, brown leaves and dust. This town needs a shower badly, a good soaking rainstorm to wash away all this ... this fall. Our verdant paradise looks horribly autumnal. But a lot of restaurants have been cooking food and serving it for free. It's been a grand gesture of community spirit. There have been others, but this is easy to point to as goodwill in action.
I do still have a day job, and the company has been taking care of its employees, paying us even while we've been unable to work. But we - and I mean a skeleton crew of my boss and me, everyone else having left - have been cleaning up the place, undoing the storm preps, and getting ready for the first cruise ship to arrive since the storm bore down on us, tomorrow. Soon enough, things will get back to abnormal.
Thursday, Key Westers gathered at Mallory Square for a pop-up celebration of our community spirit. A variety of food and drink items were provided for only one dollar, all proceeds going to Sister Season Fund, which helps locals working in our tourism/entertainment industries in times of need, and three musical acts played. Well, four - I played in between the first two, and got to do only one song. Well, if I only get to do one song it will be this one, nearly every time. Thankfully, my buddy Steve Craigo got nearly all of it on video, because it was a heartfelt rendition. I was moved and inspired by so many examples of people's resilience, determination, and goodwill in dealing with this massive natural disaster and its aftermath. As I said at the end, "Key West will survive and thrive!" Enjoy!
The video isn't much, so I offer the audio as well.
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