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Lois Oliver of Brooksville wrote to extol the virtues of the fried mush at Bob Evans.
Bill Spivey and Jerry Kent wrote separately to give praise - I think - to that Midwestern institution known as the White Castle "slider," a tiny hamburger so greasy you need not swallow. It simply slides down.
And Lawrence Gianneschi wants "Hot doughnuts now" to appear in the window of a Krispy Kreme near you. "I would love to see that little old red light go on here in Hernando County," Gianneschi wrote.
For the past two weeks, I have been dieting on a steady stream of such wistful missives from readers who responded when I asked the question: "What does Hernando County need that we don't have now?" Most were e-mails. A few technophobes - bless you all - phoned in.
I lost count of the responses after about 130.
For all my years in the news business I've spent writing about politics, race relations or religious issues, never has there been such a response to anything I've written.
From this it is clear where the priorities of our county's residents lie: an evening at Barnes & Noble, sipping a cup of Starbucks bought right in the store after you've enjoyed a meal at Carrabba's Italian Grill.
Anybody who wants to win a County Commission seat next year need only to make these things the centerpiece of his or her campaign. Tossing in a Michael's craft supply store wouldn't hurt.
In fact, I would like to declare my candidacy right now. You've just read my platform. You saw how Chick-fil-A showed up within months after I called for - nay, demanded - that they put a restaurant here. Based on your responses, I should win in a landslide.
Forget road improvements or water shortages. I'm the man who will bring you a Sweet Tomatoes restaurant and a Dillard's department store. To you long-neglected folks on the east side of the county, I promise the Albertsons grocery store you ask for.
For you New Englanders trying to cope with the Florida heat, I promise the Carvel Ice Cream Shop for which you clamor.
To the guy who asked for more dentists, I pledge to send professional headhunters to the nation's finest dental schools. And when those graduates refuse to come to Hernando County, we'll go to the more mediocre dental schools - whatever it takes.
To the folks looking for a new fashion shop, I offer T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and a JCPenney. To the fellow at Brookridge who says he can't get good pizza delivered, I offer you the Pizza Hut you seek. We'll put it right next to Harry Patel's liquor store.
To the good people who beg for a no-frills place to eat, I offer you the Piccadilly Cafeteria and the Spring Hill-area Golden Corral you wanted.
Of course all this development will require us to bulldoze every blade of grass or tall tree between Spring Hill and Brooksville. But that's going to happen anyway. We might as well pave over paradise with stuff we like.
Otherwise, it will just fill in with eight more Eckerd stores, eight more Walgreens, four Hess stations and what developers will tout breathlessly as "chiropractors row."
Just for the record:
Roughly half of all the responses I got mentioned something about a bookstore. Most of those specifically mentioned Barnes & Noble by name. So that, of course, is why you will hear me referred to simply as "the Barnes & Noble candidate."
Finishing a distant second was Carrabba's. Olive Garden trailed not far behind.
Honorable mention should go to the craft aficionados out there who pleaded for a Michael's, a Hobby Lobby or a Craft Superstore. Apparently, Wal-Mart's silk flower grove and wicker basket selection is wholly insufficient to satisfy this crowd.
I was amazed at how many of you said you have written or called the corporate headquarters of your favorite franchise in hopes of bringing them here.
All of you agree that you would rather walk across a field of hot lava or drink a Slurpee filled with glass shavings than drive anywhere in Pasco County. Your zeal is duly noted.
Rest assured: The Barnes & Noble people will here from me. I will report back to you soon on what they have to say. So, come Election Day, remember who loves ya, baby.
- Robert King covers Spring Hill and can be reached at 848-1432. Send e-mail to rking@sptimes.com