This past Saturday, November 30th, marked the end of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, and down in Key West, they have a special way of celebrating that important event. To the sound of conch shells being blown, Paul Menta and Jai Somers, the leaders of the Florida Keys' ceremonial Conch Republic administration, doused hurricane flags with rum and set them on fire, with an applauding crowd looking on, as seen in the photograph above. I really love Key West, although the last time I visited it was back in 1979, when my father Nelson, mother Mary, sister Susan, and I drove down there from Stuart, Florida for a few days. I had never heard of this particular annual ceremony until I saw a story about it on the local television news, but I do know that it is only one of many such celebrations in that quirky city. I have often considered attending Hemingway Days there in July (I want to see the Running of the Hemingways in person), but the cost of a motel in Key West is astronomical, and it is, after all, a 5-hour drive from Stuart. Perhaps I'll wait until relations thaw with Cuba to the point that they restart the overnight ferry from Key West to Havana. You used to be able to drive your car onto the ferry, stay in a stateroom overnight, and drive off the next morning in Havana. That way I could catch the Running of the Hemingways, and afterwards head to the ferry, avoiding the price of a motel room. A cheapskate's dream come true. And I would get to see Cuba, too. Perfect! I am sure with Trump as president, that will happen very soon.
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