Welcome diversion, cautious words, changing world

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By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 16, 2001

For my wife, finding someone in a her home (meaning me and my two sons) to go shopping with her always has been difficult.

In fact, she jokingly said she was going to move to Canada if she gives birth to another boy. At least, I think she was joking.

The problem has been solved, however. One, we're due to have a girl next month. Two, there is Kahunaville at the new International Plaza. The tropically themed restaurant is a perfect dropoff point for me and every other spouse who wants to watch television, play pool, throw darts and have a few spirits while the significant other shops all day.

On Friday evening, there was a nice crowd soaking in the ambience on the bar side of the restaurant. It was clear at least some people needed a break from the clouds hovering over Tampa Bay and the pall hanging over America.

What they found were bartenders who served up an array of drinks and occasionally produced fire tricks, a wait staff that danced every 30 minutes (we liked the moves by Danielle and Brionna) and the Golden Tee video golf game, which is hugely popular.

On the other side is a restaurant with a big menu and a dancing fountain. Think Rainforest Cafe meets Bahama Breeze.

There is a DJ who spins an array of pop tunes, but this is a place to chill, not a place to dance. And that's all right.

Talk radio, both on the news side and the sports side, has been filled with the anger, laments and sadness of hosts and callers. It is a necessary vehicle for venting, but hosts and callers need to have a degree of prudence.

WDAE-AM 620 host Steve Duemig raised an issue this week about a woman who was reprimanded at her job because she took offense to a fellow employee praying for forgiveness for the terrorists.

The topic made for an interesting but somewhat volatile debate. I would caution all involved that stoking the fires of our unprecedented anger is dangerous when you are not certain who is receiving the message on the other end. While we may assume every listener is sane and rational, this week's events are a clear indication that assumption can no longer be made. Every message needs to be mixed with themes of tolerance and unity.

And may I add, if we allow the issues created by this week's tragic events to create an angry divide among U.S. citizens, then we are fulfilling the wishes of the terrorists.

You may want to go see the doctor next weekend. Jane Seymour, television's Dr. Quinn, will appear at International Plaza Saturday and Hyde Park Village on Sunday.

Seymour, an accomplished artist, will be on hand to share the story of her artistic pursuits and autograph commemorative posters. The posters can be purchased at Galerie du Soleil in the Village for $50. Proceeds will go to All Children's Hospital.

A week ago I cared more about the NFC East than the Middle East. Maybe that was part of the problem.

Signs of the times. At Sunrise Nursery off Interstate 4, the flashing matrix board has an American flag, followed by "God Bless America, Pray For Our Nation, Hunt Down The Guilty." Viacom has a billboard on Interstate 275 with an eagle that says "In God We Trust, United We Stand." At Southern Power and Control off I-4, there's just a huge flag draped in front of the building.

What's that, honey? I'm supposed to walk around with you at the mall? Oh. Sorry.

I'm not sure why, but I have not shaved since Monday. I was about to on Tuesday morning when the news alert came across the screen.

No one's noticed. I have just enough peach fuzz to rival a ninth-grader.

Still, when I look in the mirror, I see a face that's slightly different. And that reminds me when I look out the window, I see a world that's very different.

- Ernest Hooper can be reached at (813) 226-3406 or Hooper@sptimes.com. His column appears on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

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