Tag Archives: Jacksonville Florida

Hunting and Gathering on the North Shore

Long before PBS or Nova or the Nature Series, there were reports of bands of bipedal primates roaming the cottage-y territories of the otherwise peaceful inhabitants in North Jacksonville. The reports were true. More shocking was the fact that these orgies included mulberry mashes, persimmon plucking and even fig orgies in the Holiday’s back yard. … Continue reading Hunting and Gathering on the North Shore

Big Jim, the steam-throated metronome for daily life in Jacksonville, Florida

If you grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, particularly on the north side, you knew that it was not your pocket watch, or your wristwatch, or even the old grandfather clock in the corner that was in charge of your life, it was a 32-inch copper steam whistle that had been installed at the municipal “waterworks” … Continue reading Big Jim, the steam-throated metronome for daily life in Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville University Vision: to provide the means and the mentors where we could fulfill our dreams

From the Main Gate at NAS Jacksonville to Moussorgsky’s “Gates of Kiev” Just before I graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1957, I had been offered an appointment to Annapolis by Congressman Charles E. Bennett, but a physical was required. When the Navy Corpsman told me that Annapolis required at least 20/100 correctable to … Continue reading Jacksonville University Vision: to provide the means and the mentors where we could fulfill our dreams

It’s Still a Grand Old Flag

-North Jacksonville 48-star School Classroom Flag Honored- Remarks by Dr. Tracy D. Connors, CAPT USN (Ret) during opening ceremonies for 60th Reunion of the Andrew Jackson High School Class of 1956 on May 21, 2016. Tonight we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the class of 1956 finally escaping from Andrew Jackson Senior High school. Before … Continue reading It’s Still a Grand Old Flag

Rejecting Rejection: being thrown back to the future

Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back, and, instead of bleeding, he sings. —Robert Benchley On that note, this recollection might be considered an aria, or at least a simple arpeggio sharing some thoughts and perspective on a topic we all probably know a great deal about – rejection. An email I … Continue reading Rejecting Rejection: being thrown back to the future

Awful Camp Songs Sung On My First Camping Trip

From a slot machine, run by steam, to a boarding house that was serving suspicious “spare ribs,” a new Boy Scout Camper learns a lot while singing in the Pavillion. Awful Camp Songs Sung on My First Camping Trip In 1951, when I was barely eleven years old, I joined Boy Scout troop 222 in … Continue reading Awful Camp Songs Sung On My First Camping Trip

Pearl Street Peel Out

In ancient Rome, when booty was piled up, the Latin term they used was pilare, to plunder, or to “pile up booty.” That meaning was derived from the word pila, or “pile” (think pillar). As time moved forward, as time inexorably does, “peel” acquired additional nuances, all derived from the “pile up” original meaning. For … Continue reading Pearl Street Peel Out

The Old Springfield Branch Library “Temple of Knowledge at Tenth & Silver”

I’ll never forget the old Springfield Library–the Temple of Knowledge at Tenth & Silver Streets –or Mrs. Porter, the librarian, its “Priestess.” The Springfield Library of the Forties was a far cry from today’s suburban libraries with their “shopping center modern” décor, computerized checkout system, and librarians seemingly more knowledgeable about the catalog system than … Continue reading The Old Springfield Branch Library “Temple of Knowledge at Tenth & Silver”