I have 38 reasons to stick around

​Happy Friday! A look on the ol’ calendar tells me Thursday was my 38th anniversary of moving to Citrus County from Meeechigan.

With that in mind, here are 38 random thoughts:

1. Just Wright Citrus had a monster two weeks. We’ve picked up nearly 400 new Facebook followers this month — 200 last Friday alone. We’re sitting at about 7,650 followers right now, plus thousands of others who don’t follow the page but regularly read it. That’s on you, dear friends.

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2. Inverness Main Street traffic is much worse than when I moved here, despite the state widening the road. I love Inverness, but man, that traffic stinks.

3. Bunny had her first visit to Floral City Animal Clinic last week. Dr. Shannon Kennedy got on her good side immediately by saying how beautiful she is. (I bet he says that to all the mutts.)

4. By the way, as for introductions: I’m Bunny’s grandpa, not Dad or Mike. That’s what I decided.

5. Downside of road construction: Can’t escape it. Orange barrels everywhere.

6. We used to have great country drives in Citrus County. Not so much now. I drive 45 minutes to get out of the county for nice drives in Levy, Hernando, Marion, and Sumter counties.

7. Floral City is so charming. I enjoy every visit.

8. Traffic signals. Ugh

9. I mentioned the big JWC week. Much of that is thanks to a single photo posted last Thursday on Facebook of the Fort Island Gulf Beach reopening. It topped 300,000 views — a record!

10. Ate at a Crystal River restaurant on my very first night in Citrus County. Told the server I would be working at the Chronicle. Her reaction was enthusiastic and positive, telling me I was in the right place.

11. Frank DiGiovanni was a visionary. Inverness is the cool town it is today because Frank set it up for success.

12. Almost forgot the news. The planning and development commission (PDC) provided the Tuscany Ranch developer a continuance Thursday. Board members generally liked the development idea but said the plan lacked details. It’ll come back at a future date.

13. So, big decision this week. I swapped out my Facebook profile photo of me/Buddy to me/Bunny. I know that Buddy would be good with it. I sure miss that guy.

14. Gerry Mulligan was a great boss, but he wasn’t my favorite. That would be Bob Rashad, who owned the gas station/car wash where I worked my way through college. Bob was a great guy and a hard worker. He also let us drink beer after closing. Working outside at a car wash during a Michigan winter was brutal, and I’m grateful to work indoors today.

15. I’ll be 67 in October. And, wow, I feel great. I tell myself all the time: Be careful while driving and watch where I'm walking to avoid falls. Thanks to Bunny, I get plenty of exercise. Life’s good.

16. I’ve never played pickleball.

17. C.R. 491 in Beverly Hills…yikes. Just not a pleasant look. That’s a wide stretch of asphalt. When I think of beautifying Citrus County, wildflowers in the median are nice, but we could use some imagination. Starting here.

18. Thirty-eight years. About the same time as U.S. 19 construction.

19. Old Homosassa has its act together. Those folks might not always get along, but they have the pulse of the community down pat.

20. Club Recovery moving in the Historic Hernando School is one of the coolest things I’ve ever been a part of.

21. I remember when Forest Ridge Boulevard was built. It is a beautiful roadway.

22. Stan Olsen gave me his cell phone number when few people had cell phones. Stan, the late Black Diamond developer, was one of the most fascinating people I’ve ever met.

23. Selfies. Never a big fan, and now it’s a Just Wright Citrus staple. Helped a young man with a jump at Wawa a few weeks ago. When I introduced myself, he said, “Are you that online guy? I thought I recognized you.” 

24. Retirement is awesome. Yes, I’m still technically working, but believe me, this is light-years better than corporate life. My schedule is my own.

25. Example: I didn’t spend four hours Thursday at the planning commission meeting. Cuz, I didn’t feel like it.

26. Water restrictions make no sense while we’re also building thousands of new homes. I realize there’s a government rationale behind all that, but it’s lost on most people.

27. My Christian faith has grown exponentially in the last 10 years. Grateful that God deposited me here.

28. I had a radio talk show in Citrus County called “Live Mic.” No kiddin’.

29. My very first Chronicle story was about a new shopping plaza in Inverness called Citrus Center that would include a movie theater. The plaza still thrives today.

30. My very last Chronicle story was about Gerry Mulligan’s retirement. Glad it was that and not a report from the planning commission.

31. Crystal River and Inverness have great community events. Both local governments engage their citizens in fun.

32. Thank goodness for the Withlacoochee State Forest. Can you imagine our county without protected land in the midsection?

33. Funny in a sad sort of way: For years, during my active alcoholism, I avoided the Manatee Festival and Strawberry Festival because they were dry. Soon as I sobered up, both added beer gardens. God’s sense of humor.

34. Remember the old Cove before it burned down? The restrooms were outside. I knew of one other bar like that in Citrus County. Any guesses?

35. Relaxation: Turner Camp Road at the Withlacoochee River.

36. I’ve spent many hours in Citrus County schools watching teachers and kids perform magic together.

37. I’m probably wrong about this, but someone told me the geographic center of Florida is in Citrus County. That’s probably the same person who said there’s a locomotive in Cooter Pond.

38. This is my home. I’ve spent well over half my life in Citrus County. I wear that distinction proudly. I know these are weird times, but our community is solid.

Thirty-eight years. Think I’ll stick around.

Have a great weekend, friends.

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