More Fun in Cedar Key
It was fun to have company over at the campground. Liz, Willow, and Gina drove by to scope out the place for a possible future family reunion site. Gina and Liz got hooked on the half-done puzzle that was spread out on a card table in the clubhouse. Joe and I ate breakfast in front of the fireplace while talking to Willow.
With our arms full of parting gifts – a container of homemade yogurt, a jar of homemade kumquat jam, some homemade blackberry wine, and fresh strawberries – we said our goodbyes to Willie, Gina, Liz, and Willow the night before. But just as we were about to head out the door, Gina remembered, “Oh, do you want to go to yoga with us in the morning?” she asked.
Joe went. I didn’t.
After yoga and breakfast, and before the clubhouse puzzle was solved, we all drove over to a secluded Cedar Key side street overlooking the marshes to watch two eagle fledglings in their nest. Pat and Tom pulled up in their golf cart with a tripod and set a telescope on it. Looking through it, the young birds looked so big that when one turned and stood up, I shouted out in amazement, “He’s looking right at me!”
Willow found a baby horseshoe crab and her brother Willie told us how the horseshoe crab blood is used for some kind of medical treatment. “Did you know that they have blue blood?” I asked. The prehistoric creatures, which are more related to spiders than to crabs, lived in the Bay in Hull, Massachusetts, where I grew up. When we were kids, we closely examined the dead ones that the tide washed up. 
A tour of the Cedar Key Cemetery was next on the schedule. It may have been the most creative cemetery I have seen. Some gravesites were covered in clam shells in the shape of the top of a casket. Several sites had brightly painted benches next to the headstones for loved ones to sit on. Colorful flags and wind socks flew, and yard statues (such as a donkey) were generously displayed.
I loved the way the Spanish moss draped hauntingly from the tree branches, and the bright white sand looked other-worldly. It felt soft on our bare feet as we tip toed and stepped gently from grave to grave. 
After a while, we all went our separate ways for lunch without saying any formal goodbyes this time. It’s a small town and so far we kept running into each other without making plans to.
“Maybe we’ll see you at Community Valentine Party tonight,” I shouted.
“Or up at the museum for the telescope stargazing,” someone answered.
February 16th, 2007 7:27 pm
I’ve been tied up and didn’t realize that you were in Treasure Key. On March 1st I’m heading to Gainesville and plan to meet Terri & husband on the 3rd at Treasure Key. I’ve been there once before but am looking forward to it again. Have fun.
February 16th, 2007 7:28 pm
you’re making me jealous! you’re down there at a perfect time b/c it sounds like your fellow floyd countians have been without power for the past couple of days with the ice storm. it is absolutely frigid here! what a different world down there!
February 16th, 2007 7:33 pm
It all sounds wonderful there Colleen, & so warm & beautiful I’ve always loved spanish moss, I remember being disappointed when I first came to VA because there wasn’t any here. You’re not missing much around here! It’s freezing & we’ve had ice.
February 17th, 2007 12:13 am
What great photos. And it all sounds so wonderful. Yoga before breakfast? Awesome.
Michele sent me.
February 17th, 2007 12:16 am
Hi! Michele sent me. I grew up in nearly the middle of the continguous US, so I’ve never actually been to the ocean and seen live crabs in their natural setting. The blue blood was amazing to me! Thanks for the pictures of the cemetary. I’ve never seen anything like that. In the midwest, it’s all very sedate headstones with a few flowers left by a family member. I’ve certainly never seen the top of the vault above the sand line or shells lining a grave before!
February 17th, 2007 12:23 am
You sound very much at home there.
February 17th, 2007 4:47 am
wow reading down it looks and sounds wonderful.
glad and a a little jealous 😉
February 17th, 2007 7:40 am
oops, I think I sent a comment before it was complete. I just wanted to say that I haven’t peeked in in awhile. I did this morning though because I wanted to see how your vacation is going. I was not disappointed. Looks as though your having loads of fun!!!
Love to you and Joe and all the fine people you interact with.
February 17th, 2007 8:53 am
I like how you describe the lack of goodbyes. It’s a culture and a community that most of us would dearly love to experience every day: it seems to genteel, so human.
You describe this place beautifully. No surprise, of course. But I wanted to say it anyway.
February 17th, 2007 7:06 pm
Such a creative cemetary…! I think that is wonderful…! It sounds like Cedar Key has been a joyous beautiful respite, Colleen…Is it hard to leave, my dear? Or are you ready to return to that other magical place, Floyd?
I love that picture of the Fish hovering in the air over that gravesite…..this cemetary looks like a place that one would enjoy going to for a picnic. I believe cemetary’s should feel warm and friendly like this…!
February 18th, 2007 9:33 am
Oh I wish I had someone to do yoga with…teach me actually.
February 18th, 2007 9:45 am
OK…. now you have me convinced. Next winter.. hubby and I are booking off a week and going to Florida. This all sounds like such a wonderful time. 🙂
February 18th, 2007 5:26 pm
Such a fantasy trip you are having by the sea! I so want to be there! The girl in the photo alone, looks EXACTLY like my massage therapist-friend and her granddaughter’s name is Willow!
February 18th, 2007 6:06 pm
Ah, so you made it to one of my favorite places on the island…our cemetery. You probably now know why I walk in there every morning. My dogs love it and there’s always a unique peace there.
Did you happen to see our headstone, all engraved? I resonate with this island so much, I knew I wanted to literally spend eternity here.
February 18th, 2007 6:28 pm
I missed yours, Terri. We broke up early for lunch and I thought I would get back to the cemetery again (because it was so special), but alas we did not. Maybe next time?
April 20th, 2015 9:18 pm
Shtufff of Tombs. I could not make myself think of what loved ones would put on top of me. Somethings are just too hard to get ones head around.