Tidy Tidbits: Reading & Jaunting

THIS WEEK

Some of my readers will recall the satirical political TV series hosted by David Frost, “That Was the Week that Was,” affectionately dubbed TW3. Certainly, this past week in the U.S. was a TW3! From the announcement of Amy Coney Barrett to the revelations about Trump’s tax returns to the embarrassing brawl of a presidential debate to the sight of the president leaving the White House for the hospital, it was a week of drama, outrage, and high emotion. With such a muddle of events, one wonders what will happen in the few remaining weeks until the election.

In these circumstances, turning to history (in this case, an historical novel) or exploring new places in one’s home state can provide relief and a welcome change from politics.

READING–OVERLOOKED BUT FAR FROM A LIGHTWEIGHT

The Wright Sister by Patty Dann

The Wright Sister is a delightful novel.  I felt as if I were living with Katharine Wright and thoroughly enjoyed her company, her musings about her role in Wilbur and Orville’s phenomenal success, and her reflections on life as a married woman.  

For her first 50+ years, Katharine was her brothers’ younger sister.  After their mother died when she was only fifteen, she became “mother” to them, and ran the household. More than that she worked with them on their first airplane and traveled with them to Europe, acting as their front person or PR man.  Of the three, she was the only college graduate (Oberlin), was smart and outgoing, but also constrained by her father’s traditional views.  Wilbur died young and then their father. Katharine continued to live with Orville in Dayton until her marriage at age 52 to Henry Haskell, a widower and college friend.  At this point, intellectually keen and socially active, Katharine blooms and comes into her own sexually.

Dann’s novel takes the form of Katharine’s marriage diary and her chatty letters to Orville from her new home in Kansas City, Missouri, where Henry is a newspaper editor.  Orville was always quirky and strange and became even more so.  Author Dann claims not to have done a lot of research, but the novel is true to the basic facts of Katharine Wright’s life.  I am now intrigued enough to read another novel about Katharine by Henry Haskell’s grandson entitled Maiden Flight.  (~JWFarrington)

EXPLORING THE SUNSHINE STATE

Florida Fling—Bradenton to Zolfo Springs

In the time of Covid, it doesn’t take much in the way of variety to qualify as a fling.  This was a mini-fling, possibly just a micro-fling.  In any case, the Chief Penguin and I decided we needed to explore a bit more of Florida.  Hence, the initial proposal to drive over to Lake Okeechobee for lunch in that area.  

After a bit more research on what might or might not be an attraction worth a two-hours plus drive, I proposed we only go as far as Zolfo Springs with a stop in Arcadia on the way.  Fortunately, Arcadia came first.  It’s a small town, the county seat of DeSoto County, with a distinguished historic district.  Especially noteworthy are the county courthouse and the stunning pink arcade building dominating a main street intersection.  The arcade houses several purported antique shops along with the Rattler Saloon.  It was a quiet morning and I only glimpsed one other pedestrian.

Mary Margaret’s Tea and Biscuit occupies space on the short side of the arcade and boasted a welcoming signboard.  It was really too early for lunch, and we didn’t want breakfast.  We stuck our heads into the charming quaintly decorated tearoom and inquired of the young hostess about lunch hours.  Although it was not quite 10:30, she kindly offered to serve us lunch.  There was one lone diner finishing an omelet. Our round table in the corner was a safe distance away.  We enjoyed a tuna melt with a green salad and a ham and cheese sandwich and fries and ordered homemade baklava and a scone to go.  No one else came in while we were there.  It was a most pleasant interlude.  

The hostess told us that in season they are very popular.  And they serve afternoon tea every day and high tea with 24 hours’ notice.  It’s the sort of place that would seem to attract “ladies who lunch.”

From Arcadia we proceeded the approximately 20 miles to Zolfo Springs.  It looked somewhat sad with one closed Mexican restaurant and not much else.  In its heyday, Pioneer Park, with a lake and camping, a small museum, and a pioneer village, would have been an attractive Zolfo Springs destination.  Now the park looked neglected and, due to Covid, was closed.

On the return drive along part of the Florida Cracker Trail (named for the cowboys cracking long whips who drove cattle west to the coast), we detoured slightly.  Our hope was to perhaps get a view of the famed and whimsical Solomon’s Castle.  I knew it was closed until October 1, but thought we’d at least get to see the exterior.  It’s well hidden down a dead-end road, and all we could view were the gates.  Another time, another trip.

Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved).