Like when we moved down to Corsicana from Denver in 2001, we are already experiencing changes and making comparisons to life here compared to the life we enjoyed in Corsicana. Sarasota has an estimated population (based on the 2010 census) of about 52,000 folks, while Sarasota County has about 379,500 souls. Obviously, these figures put our new digs at over twice the size of Corsicana and Navarro County.
Sarasota’s official motto is “Where Urban Amenities Meet Small-Town Living.” I wonder if they ran a contest here to come up with that gem like we did in Corsicana? Actually, it pretty well describes this town and its activities and attractions.
The “urban amenities” would include the opera, ballet, film festival, marine laboratory, botanical gardens, colleges and universities, annual orchid show, and many musical, dance, artistic and theatrical venues. What I don’t like about most of these activities and attractions is they entail dressing up (as in coat and tie) which I only do for weddings and funerals.
The “small-town living” part is more my speed. We’re talking the Gulf, the Keys, the beaches, beer fests, chili cookoffs, the Florida Wine Fest and Auction, beer fests, the Pumpkin Festival, sport boating and fishing, beer fests, high school and college sports, the Ringling museums, and beer fests. These are my favorites because they fit my wardrobe of shorts and T-shirts.
Corsicana’s motto is “Live, Work, Play.” I remember when they ran a contest to come up with that and I was sorely disappointed when my suggestion was summarily rejected. I know you are curious so here it is. “Corsicana, where folks actually grow and eat okra.” I thought it was a shoo-in but, alas, good taste won out over cuteness.
As it is in Corsicana, newspaper sports reporting is very heavy with high school and college sports. For pro sports, Sarasota is attached at the hip to Tampa just as Corsicana is to Dallas. However, Sarasota is the home of the Baltimore Orioles for the Grapefruit League season. In fact, this area is loaded with big-league teams this time of year. Just in the relatively short distance between Tampa and Fort Myers you’ll find the Yankees, Blue Jays, Tigers, Phillies, Pirates, Orioles, Rays, Red Sox, and Twins.
When it comes to diversity of population, Sarasota has it way over Corsicana. Corsicana is made up of mostly of “Lakers” and “Townies” who all enjoy fish fries, chili cook-offs, Derrick Days, and all things barbecued. Since we’ve been here, we’ve seen Native American, Jewish, Scottish, Greek, and German festivals run into Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s events. There is also a very large influx of “Snowbirds” from the north this time of year who add even more diversity to the landscape.
It is interesting to note that the Pinecraft neighborhood of Sarasota is a popular winter vacation destination for about 3,000 Amish and Mennonite folks from states like Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Now, I know what you are thinking — it must be a real hardship to drive all those buggies down from the north. Not to worry. They actually come down and go back by tour busses. These folks are very industrious and, while I have not tried their bakery goods yet, they tell me their breads and pastries are so good they would make the Collin Street Bakery folks weep with envy.
All this being said, The Little Woman (the name still annoys her) and I hope that we will be as happy here as we were there and accrue as many friends here as we did in our 12 years in Corsicana. Pulling up stakes out on Golden Pond and schlepping down here was very hard for us and we do miss our life there a lot. Of course, the fact that the rest of our little family is here makes our new home all the more attractive.
Since I talked about diversity quite a bit, let me close this rant with this very serious adage on tolerance and the live-and-let-live philosophy that I picked up somewhere. During these serious, trying, and very troubling times, people of all faiths should remember these four great religious truths: (1) Muslims do not recognize Jews as God’s Chosen People. (2) Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. (3) Protestants do not recognize the Pope as the leader of the Christian world. (4) Baptists do not recognize each other at the liquor store.
See ya...
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Dick Platt is a Daily Sun columnist. His column appears on Tuesdays. Want to “Soundoff” on this column? Email: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
Opinion
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Dick Platt is a Daily Sun columnist.
Discussion
Sarasota versus Corsicana
- Opinion
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Dumb people in the news
In the news this week was an on-line press release from the Department of Environmental Protection for the state of Pennsylvania that they’ve lost a nuclear device off the back of a truck somewhere between Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Troxler Model 3430 is a radioactive gauge that takes measurements in the ground. The press release from the DEP states that anyone finding the box should not “tamper” with it.
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Editorial: Seizure of AP phone records insult to independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
This amounts to spying on an American news organization — common practice in dictatorships but scary conduct in a democratic system that prizes the public value of an independent watchdog press. -
Flying the “Delta Connector”
I had an unfortunate fall earlier this week and wrecked my back to the point where I cannot spend much time sitting up at my desk to write. Therefore, I am recycling a piece I wrote many years ago about our first trip from Corsicana back to Denver.
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It's my job
A couple of weeks ago, some chowderheads released a study saying that the worst job in America is that of newspaper reporters because of the low pay, long, odd hours and stress.
Number two on the list was lumberjack, which makes sense because trees kill.
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Message from the Mayor: Safety first
The tragic incident that recently occurred in West serves as a stark reminder that disasters can occur at any time or place.
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Angels among us
The winds have dispersed the mushroom cloud that hovered over the small town of West. The dust has settled. The President of the United States, the Governor of Texas and other dignitaries have come to join in the memorial for those who lost their lives.
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Missing the fun
Sad to say, in the 11 years The Little Woman (don’t call me that!) and I lived in Navarro County, we never attended the annual Derrick Days festivities. We followed all the events in the Daily Sun, but we never schlepped into town to “walk amongst em.” I guess, if I were to be honest with myself, I am the reason we never went.
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Need a job? Leave the cat at home
The USA Today has printed an article this past week of advice to newly minted college graduates on how to get a job which basically boiled down to “don’t be stupid.”
This is excellent advice for any situation, but particularly that crucial job interview. -
Plenty to do
I don’t wanna hear anyone griping about “there’s not anything to do around here.”
In fact, there’s SO much to do around here, I’m not sure how anyone can get to it all! -
Letters to the Editor 5/4/13
To the Editor: Education, in my opinion, is the key to solving the problems we face in today’s world. We owe it to every child in Corsicana to provide him/her with the tools to reach their fullest potential.
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