HOT PURSUIT

One of the joys I get out of life is watching my children to see how they grow and develop in their own lives.

While no one has ever shared with me the master grand plan of how to parent, I feel like I’ve created my own plan over the years. For the most part it has proven to be successful. Even though some things have not worked, I have achieved success with most other things.

Though my oldest kids have been busy with their own activities throughout high school, college and now into their own professional careers, they have stuck with me consistently for the past 14 years by playing integral roles in publishing this newspaper. While largely unnoticed to the average reader, they work mostly behind the scenes and have a hand in every edition.

A few weeks ago, my son Caleb decided I needed a break from the weekly grind of putting out a newspaper and invited me to go with him to Fort Myers, Fla. for spring training. He’s a baseball fanatic and loves the Minnesota Twins. I had never taken in spring training baseball before, so this was an extra special treat for me.

We enjoyed an afternoon of Twins baseball in the warm Florida sunshine at Hammond Stadium. I was a little surprised how quickly the game flew by. Of course, the new pitching clock rule has changed the momentum of baseball this season. The new rule allows pitchers only 15 seconds to throw a pitch with bases empty and 20 seconds with a runner on base.

It wasn’t enough to just see the Twins play. We also headed over to JetBlue Park to watch the Boston Red Sox perform on another afternoon.

Our trip involved more than just baseball. For the first time ever, we took advantage of being over the Gulf of Mexico near Fort Myers Beach to do a little parasailing. What a breath-taking experience that was for both of us.

One thing I wasn’t prepared for was the enormity of the devastation left behind from last fall’s Hurricane Ian, the third costliest weather disaster on record, and the deadliest hurricane to strike Florida since 1935. The hurricane packed a punch to the tune of $113 billion.

It was heart wrenching to drive through Fort Myers Beach to see hollowed out buildings, massive piles of rubble and yachts flipped over. I saw churches shredded to the bare walls. Many homes, too damaged to be repaired, are waiting to be demolished. It appeared to be a war zone.

Fort Myers Beach is struggling to become a functional paradise again. Some say it could take years to rebuild the area.

A shop on the main drag where I purchased a couple souvenirs had just received power the day before.

I spoke briefly by phone with Tess Koster of Blooming Prairie. She and her husband, Rod, have several properties in the Fort Myers Beach area. While they have repaired some, they are still trying to get them all back to being livable again.

What impressed me the most were the spirits of people still in Fort Myers Beach. Even after their lives have been upended, they were so grateful to strangers like us for coming to their community and supporting them through tourism. The woman at the parasailing operation told me that I had no idea how much it meant to them for us to come there. I was happy to help even in what I felt was the smallest way.

While it may not have been the best time to visit Fort Myers Beach, I’m thankful I took the time now so I could get a greater understanding of what people there are facing. It makes one appreciate how lucky we are to not have to deal with such devastation.

It was also a great time to connect with my son. And after the trip, he hit me with something I really wasn’t expecting. He asked for my bucket list of places I want to travel so that he can help facilitate my wishes. Can I just say he has a heart of gold and is one of the most thoughtful people I know.

I’m off to go in hot pursuit of developing my travel bucket list.