CEDAR KEY, FL (352today.com) – For many of us in North Central Florida, Cedar Key has long been a family favorite staycation destination. But for nearly 700 Floridians, Cedar Key is home.
I’ve spent a lot of time on the island over the years. My mom and dad first took my brother and me there when we were kids.
I spent a week on the island with my friend, Shelly, when her parents took us there for her birthday during spring break at Dunnellon Middle School. I still remember the little cottage we stayed in, which had some exposed nails on the baseboard. Shelly and I walked to the market and, like typical kids, bought a lot of candy. For some reason, we decided to stick a couple of Whoppers malt balls on the nails. Her mom thought we had mice. Those would have been some big mice, but we all laughed about it, and it’s a memory we still share when we talk about our time together in Cedar Key.
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Hurricane Debby leaves Cedar Key with a lot of water and a fairytale ending | PHOTOS & VIDEO
Almost 30 years later, my husband and I brought our son to the island for a weekend trip for the first time when he was in middle school. Over the years, we’ve enjoyed fishing from the pier and our boat. One of our dear family friends had a lovely wedding there. The memories we have are priceless and plentiful.
We want more.
I spent most of Friday and Saturday bawling uncontrollably as I saw the struggles these Cedar Key lifers are experiencing. Still not recovered from Hurricanes Idalia and Debby, a fire took out a portion of Dock Street just last week.
Sifting through the photos and video taken by 352today’s Alan Youngblood has me in tears once again. Alan texted me Saturday afternoon after successfully entering the tiny island that “it was just really devastating.” He was able to speak with several islanders who were picking up what is left of their lives.
I really don’t think my words are needed beyond this. Alan’s photos and video speak for themselves.