Ft. Myers, Fla. farmers market. Gypsy fashion. Paul Goldfinger photo. December 2020. Blogfinger.net. Click once to enlarge.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor Blogfinger.net
The dark-hued Gypsy music is often described as romantic. It may be a coincidence, but Gypsies are often called Romas. Their music has its origins in eastern Europe and borrows from a number of ethnic musical styles.
The Glenn Miller classic “I Know Why and So Do You” references Gypsy violins: This version is with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and vocalist Paula Kelly as seen in the movie The Shape of Water.
"When you smile at me I hear the Gypsy violins,
When you dance with me, I'm in heaven when the music begins."
Paul Goldfinger. Shelling. Sanibel Island, Florida. 2/7/20. Click to enlarge
By Paul Goldfinger. Editor Blogfinger.net
Sanibel Island has been known for its shelling. They even have a shell museum and a shell festival. Locals tell me that the shelling isn’t as good as it has been in the past, but it goes on anyhow. We once took a boat ride to an island for finding shells, but the quest was disappointing.
Sanibel is connected to Ft. Myers city by an amazing causeway. You can stop your car along the way, set up a blanket or some chairs and watch the world go by.
The Island is on the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound. It was devastated during Ian hurricane. Currently it is in awful condition, but some of the beaches are open. Many businesses are closed, and many residential buildings are abandoned. In the ten months since Ian, an amazing amount of cleanup has occurred. But much remains to be done.
MacIntosh Books and Paper on Sanibel Island. Jan 26, 2021. Paul Goldfinger photos. Click to enlarge photos.
MacIntosh display. James Patterson lives in Florida, and this book was released just one month ago. Paul Goldfinger photograph.
By Paul Golfinger, MD, Editor@Blogfinger.net
When we visit Sanibel Island we always stop at the MacIntosh bookstore. It is the sort of place where book-lovers love to go, to browse and to talk about books. Eileen’s eyes widened as we entered Rebecca Binkowski’s shop. She looked around and exclaimed, “I love sox.”
I said, “Now you tell me.”
Another woman was also looking at the sox display. This selection was brightly colored with pictures on them.
This shop is hanging on. The shopping traffic has diminished, and across the country 20% of independent book shops are in danger of closing.
Eileen headed right to the children’s section. She has pretty much given up on books on paper because all her “reading” is of audio books where someone reads a book to her. The readers are specially talented–some are actors who make a career out of it.
Rebecca the owner of MacIntosh is bubbly, talkative, and happy; the perfect personality for what she does. She unmasked for the photo. Paul Goldfinger photo. Q2M 1/26/21
Rebecca is the 6th owner of the MacIntosh shop located in the 6th location on Sanibel Island. That business was started in 1960, and a large photograph of the founder, named MacIntosh was hanging behind her. But she was feeling optimistic because she said that “sales of books on paper” are up 30%—a good side effect of the pandemic.
The shop’s cat was sitting near my feet, looking up at us. Rebecca says that Bart is the perfect book store cat.
STEVIE NICKS. “Landslide”. Orchestra version live from Soundstage. Album. The Soundstage Sessions.
“Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin’ ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?”
