Arctic Cat Snowmobile in front of Cars Unlimited in Tampa, FL

Snow, snowmobiles and Tampa, FL are not words usually found in the same sentence.

According to Wikipedia, “The last measurable snow in Tampa fell on January 19, 1977. The accumulation amounted to all of 0.2 inches (0.5 cm), but the city, unprepared for and unaccustomed to wintry weather, came to a virtual standstill for a day.”

As a Tampa resident on that fateful day in 1977 I can attest to the accuracy of the Wikipedia article.

Cars Unlimited Tampa, FL

Since even on that snowy day over 32 years ago there wasn’t enough white stuff to require a snowmobile I was a bit surprised to see a snowmobile parked (do you “park” snowmobiles?) in front of a local pre-owned car dealer. Particularly since it was a beautiful spring day. The sun was shining and the temperature was in the mid-eighties.

Curiosity got the better of me so after shooting a couple pictures outside, I went inside and talked to Cars Unlimited owner Allen Stathas.

Inside was yet another snowmobile–this one for kids… Read the rest of this entry

Like a whole bunch of other folks I grew up in the long ago BI days.

“BI” means Before Internet. It was, although much different to today, a good time to be a kid. We played ball, hide n’ seek and board games. We ran around in the woods and fished in a convenient pond or over at the river. Sometimes we actually caught something.

Like most kids we were unconcerned with the world as a whole — most of the time. The most important times in our lives–or at least my life–were birthdays and Christmas. On Christmas and on my birthday I knew I would probably receive a new gift. A gift that wasn’t handed down by a better-off relative or friend. Something that would be mine–first!

Thinking back we were not the “poorest” people around. I recall thinking of other kids as “poor.” Granted, poor is a relative term. We happened to live in an area and attend schools that reflected the extremes of “have” and “have-notness.”

And “have-notness” is what this little post is about.

On the news a few minutes ago it was reported that both The Salvation Army Angel Tree and The USMC Toys for Tots programs are facing a 25% decline in donated toys for distribution this Christmas.

If you have the wherewithal to help make Christmas a little better for a child or two please contact your local Salvation Army Angel Tree Sponsor or USMC Toys for Tots program and donate a toy.

Ten, fifteen or even fifty years from now that once kid will remember benefiting from your generosity.

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