'Improvements' and the painful lessons that keep on giving
By BRUCE MICHAUD
Published April 4, 2004
I am beside myself with the new improvements in Citrus Park. I don't think there is a place in Tampa that has had as many upgrades.
First is the nature trail bridge going over Gunn Highway. What a great idea that was: a gradual slope bridge for the bikers and joggers. I still go under it because I can't pedal over it without my blood pressure peaking at 200. But it looks great as I watch my family go down the other side while I risk my life crossing eight lanes of traffic to meet them.
Next are the new improvements at the Citrus Park baseball fields. All new stands, new fields that don't flood, and the removal of the buildings behind the dugouts. Now I can watch a foul ball go from one field over another field into the parking lot and through a windshield with nothing blocking my view. Before, you would only hear the window break. But thanks to the county we can not only hear the smashing glass, but also watch the window explode. We can also see all the other stands from our seats, so it's easy to see who owned the car. Now they know why the front row is always available in the parking lot.
Next is the new price at the toll both. I still wait in line because I don't have a coin changer on my belt like the Good Humor man to ring out four quarters. I get up to the toll person and hand him a dollar, and it's hard to let that dollar go. My hand double-checks the situation every time.
Usually we hand money out and get fast food or at least change back, do I wait?
No, not this time, Mr. Hand!
They just grab my greenback away and I drive away feeling good about the new road improvements that will take place because of it.
We will soon have a Dairy Queen across the street from the mall. Ice cream and burgers all under one red roof. I grew up eating Dairy Queen, so I will have to carry the tradition on to my family and eat there every chance I get. Of course, it's not as much fun now, knowing that I'm clogging my arteries and packing on enough weight to crush walnuts by just sitting on them. But I can still remember riding my bike up to the window as a kid and ordering a cherry Mr. Misty. I was always thirsty from the ride there and I would suck the treat down to replenish my fluids. You would think after the first 50 times I would have learned my lesson about sucking down a frozen drink too fast, but it was just as painful as the first time. I would hit the scorching pavement in pain as I tried to breathe warm air into my skull to relieve the ice from around my brain.
The next major improvement comes courtesy of the Tampa International Airport. The airplanes now lower their wheels farther out than before. It's right over our neck of the woods. Not only can you see those big jets coming in, but also you have all the wheels dropping out as you watch them get ready for their final descent. I was looking at them with my son yesterday from my driveway.
"It's amazing those things can fly, huh, son?"
My son looked up at the plane and back at me. "So what, Dad, can we go do something now instead of watching planes?"
"Yes, son, let's ride our bikes to Circle K and I'll buy you an Icee to suck down. If you can drink it all within a minute, I'll give you 10 bucks."
I watched the planes from the Circle K as he sat on the curb, buckled over and trying to breathe hot air into his young skull. Some day he will understand the amazement of flight. Today he is understanding that somebody offering him 10 bucks to suck down a frozen drink is a pretty safe bet.
- Bruce Michaud lives in Odessa and writes occasionally for North of Tampa.
