March 06th, 2018

I believe I have mentioned before that for a small island, there are a crazygood number of parks here.  And some of the best parks also have beach access which is awesome.  One of them is a doggie park with it's own doggie beach ...way cool!  Another one has great pavilions of even large groups of people to have cookouts.  Yet another has an adorable boardwalk with little branches off of it with covered picnic tables.  Or at least it used to.

Early in the morning, this past Sunday, in the wee hours, before the sun came up, somebody set fire to that particular park.  With all the greenery abounding, the fire quickly spread destroying not only living green stuff but also park of the boardwalk and picnic areas.  Fortunately, it was quickly discovered and our rockstar fire department quickly got hold of the situation and ultimately resolved it.  Still, currently, this park is unusuable.  There is no safe beach access, the area is scorched and smelly, the wood that remains is blackened and whatever little creatures lived there, hopefully, were able to scurry away safely. Looking at it is heart breaking.

​I am incensed.  An accidental fire is one thing. It's always a tragedy but it happens. By accident.  Whatever damage was wrought, whatever injuries occurred, people shake their heads and say, "what a shame" and "I'm so sorry" with genuine care and concern.  Because it was an accident.  We don't call them intentionals, we call them accidents for a reason.

​This particular area is Florida is an especially lighting heavy area.  Lightening occasionally strikes one of many crazytall palm trees in the area and well that fire, nobody saw coming.  We have absolutely no control over that one.  Lightening happens and sometimes, as a result, fires happen too.

​But this one was intentional and I am incensed.  How dare they.  How dare they come to MY town, this lovely island, a paradise that attracts visitors from all over the world and intentionally set a fire ruining a lovely park.  And if our crackerjack fire department had not been as on their toes as they are, who knows how far it could have spread, how much damage could have been done?  I am furious.

​I just don't understand some people.  Like the ones who somehow think it is perfectly acceptable to steal.  Okey dokey to kick their dog.  And hey if they say they are sorry afterwards, it's completely fine to smack around their wife or kids.  how does anyone's brain work that way?
I feel guilty if I neglect to hold the door for the person behind me coming out of the grocery store and other people sleep like innocent babies when they lie and cheat and steal as a way of life.

​It is disheartening to read stories in the newspaper about all the horrible things that happen in the world.  It makes me unbearably sad and I have been known to weep while watching the evening news.  But here I felt fairly safe.  Living here on the island is like existing in this perfect little bubble. I can walk anywhere here without fear, any time of day, alone and nod hello to total strangers who smile and nod back.   I bike to these lovely parks and I walk to the beach and it's pristine and beautiful and fills my heart with joy every time.

​And now it's tainted a bit.  Oh I know that the trees and the shrubs will grow back, the birds and other critters will return and at some point the boardwalk and picnic areas will be repaired. But I will never forget what someone did to it this past weekend.  And that is what makes the difference.
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