It was the day before Christmas 1976 when I first crossed Bridge Four and discovered Cedar Key. That venture actually changed our lives. A young Native American friend in Wisconsin had said, "Jean, it`s your kind-a place" and Charlie Skaife and I came to take a look. It surely was - we stayed three months. The following year we bought a placeon A Street and I`ve been coming back for 35 winters ever since. Charlie had been ill when we first came, but it was the friendship and acceptance of the people of Cedar Key that gave him 12 happy years. Many of those old friends have gone beyond, but I shall never forget Verona Watson, Bill and Janet Betts, R B and Ida Belle Davis, T he Hodges, Nicholas and Margie and many others who always welcomed us back. Even the post master would say, "We`re lookin` for ya babe" before we returned. Is it any wonder that we fell in love with Cedar Key? Yes, it`s the beautiful sunsets, and great birding in a peaceful setting, but it was, and still is, the people of Cedar Key who make uswant to come back "down home" every year. Now, we come to Christmas again looking forward to another return. Taking this opportunity to wish our many Cedar Key friends a MERRY CHRISTMAS. |