My Birthday and the Fountain of Youth


As we proceeded northward in Florida, my birthday coincided with our arrival at the Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth discovered centuries ago.  It is still providing refreshment and that dream (fantasy?) of reclaiming our youth.  I was pumped!

I imbibed the magic elixir and waited impatiently for my youth to return.  Then I was informed that it would take 24 hours.   It has been a long 24 hours.  Three streams were gushing from the fountain, and I chose the middle one.  I think it was the placebo.


Canopied streets draped with Spanish Moss (neither Spanish nor moss) ringed the area around the 500-year-old site.   Peacocks strolled the grounds and were quite vocal about our trespassing.



A demonstration of the cross-bow showed how the Spanish dominated their lands.  Explorers used older weaponry during their travels since funds were scarce and these weapons were cheap.  They had few cannon and a few powder muskets that were more finicky to operate in Florida's damp climate.  So, the crossbow was a welcome backup support system in those times.


An ice cream shop appeared on the horizon in the afternoon, and this painting on the wall acknowledged the wide variation we experienced throughout Florida.



In the evening, we arrived at Jeff and Lauren's home for a delicious family dinner.  Jeff is Sarah's nephew.  Their family is growing rapidly, and Sarah now has two grandnephews.  Hamburgers were BBQed along with a cornucopia of vegetables.  Then the whole gang surprised me with a birthday carrot cake, all vegan, of course!!  We could have started a second BBQ with all the candles!  A grand time was had by all and especially me!

Comments

  1. Steve LangeApril 25, 2021 at 9:02 AM

    Happy Birthday, Leo!

    ReplyDelete
  2. HaukeApril 25, 2021 at 6:32 PM

    Happy 28th B'Day, Leo ... ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ian PedenApril 27, 2021 at 5:23 AM

    Belated happy Birthday leo. That stuff must work as you don't look a day older since last we met.

    ReplyDelete

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