History Lesson: The Conch Republic

Because I should be packing, and because I should be working on ... oh, you know ... important stuff ... I've decided instead that it would be much more fun to share this little snippet of Keys history.  Besides, if you're reading this because you are planning your own relo to Key West, it might be helpful to understand what the fuss is all about.  It's one of those peculiar "really, seriously?" pieces of American history that you'll rarely find in your more refined history texts.  My favorite! 

So what exactly is the Conch Republic?

"Way" back on April 23, 1982, the residents of the Florida Keys (all of the Keys, mind you) seceded from the United States of America in response to a U.S. border patrol blockade that was set up on highway US-1 at Florida City, the gateway to the Florida Keys.  The government, in effort to coral an influx of drug operations and illegal immigrants, completely alienated the Keys from the U.S. mainland while infuriating the residents who felt they were treated as outlaws in their own country.  Insults set aside, the armed road blocks subsequently hindered tourism, and the resentful Keys residents had had enough.

Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow, along with several other prominent Conchs, went to Federal court in Miami to seek an injunction to stop the federal blockade, but to no avail.  As the angry mayor left the Federal Courthouse, he paused on the steps, looked straight into the eyes of the TV crews and reporters, and proclaimed, "Tomorrow at noon the Florida Keys will secede from the Union!".  The next day, in the public arena of Key West's Mallory Square, Mayor Wardlow officially read the proclamation of secession stating that the newly formed Conch Republic was hence forward an independent nation separate from the United States.  Now referred to as Prime Minister Wardlow, he then symbolically rallied the Conch Republic's Civil Rebellion (and ensuing war against the United States!) by breaking a loaf of stale Cuban bread over the head of a man dressed in a U.S. Navy uniform. 

One minute later, the Prime Minister turned to the Admiral in charge of the Navy base at Key West, surrendered the Union Forces, and demanded one billion dollars in foreign aid and war relief monies to rebuild the long-suffering nation.  The U.S. government promptly removed the roadblock.

To this day, the Conch Republic still celebrates its independence with annual festivities, and official Conch Republic Passports can be ordered through the Office of the Secretary General of the Conch Republic.  Your newly acquired "dual citizenship" may not get you too far in your travels but, for a mere $100, you too can become a part of Keys history.  Really, and you thought "history" was boring!  

By the way, the Conch Republic is still waiting for its foreign aid .. but don't hold your breath!  

A Sweet Surprise

In the jam-packed pace of my world these days, I'm afraid this is 'old news'.  I actually swore I wouldn't blog about this latest for fear of jinxing the possibilities ... but ...

... I have an interview with Sigsbee!   

Yes, I know ... you know already!  But I've kept Key West secrets for so long it's simply impossible not to divulge all at this point ... so I won't mind if you click off and skip me over this go-around.  Really, please.  But the fact of the matter is that I am thrilled to be given the chance to personally interview (and fight!) for a teaching position in the school I've admired for so long now.  Allow me a glowing moment to document this, if you would.  Perhaps it's nothing more my desire to annotate a small glimmer of success after the tortuous wait of January, February, etc, etc., and the first 16 days of June, but my toes are still a-twinkle none-the-less.

How?  I don't really know.  Could my out-of-town address really have hindered me that much regardless of my qualifications?  Did I misread the staffing updates altogether or ... maybe I'm an alternate candidate?  No matter, as my self-proclaimed pity party neared its cranky-pants end the other day, I returned home to find a late-night email from the principal ... and a subsequent appointment set for July.  Sweeeeeet.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Cry Me a River

Today is my pity party day.  Mine.  All mine and just for today.  Sigsbee posted its new teacher hires for the next school year, and I wasn't invited.  No interview, no feedback, nary a peep.  No one adored my resume, and apparently I am not worthy.  I didn't even rate a courtesy reject notice.  Nothin'.

So here I sit, the overachiever accustomed to surpassing even my simplest of goals (while not typically being so pompously boorish!), wiping the pie of life from my crinkled brow.  Wow, what a kick in the ass!  Yup, cry me a river ... I knooowww.  I can feel all of your loving bear hugs wrapped tightly around me right now.  Oh, what?  Really?  Those are suck-it-up-pick-yourself-off-the-floor-girl-and-keep-on-moving slaps I'm feeling?  Whoops, my bad!

Now to be fair, I knew wholeheartedly I was attempting to resume a career I shelved 11 years ago.  I knew that this school's primary curriculum is based on an environmental science platform (slightly unrelated to my training as an historian, mind you).  And I knew that I was attempting to secure a position without a local Key West address - usually an "are you kidding me?" challenge in and of itself.  But ... I'm a greeaaaaat teacher!  Parent-approved!  Don't they know this?

So one door now closes, and perhaps it's temporarily for the best.  I think it was Alexander Graham Bell who said, "When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us."  I like AGB, and I think he was a wise man.  Though I might spend the rest of today nursing a pint of whoa-is-me flavored ice cream - or a martini, I haven't decided yet - I most definitely will move forward with my own list of equally tempting prospects.  With little one starting preschool in August, and my island days will be wide open for new opportunities.  Now, that's something to celebrate! 

At least tomorrow anyway.  

Zip Code 33040: "The Rock"

We have an address!  Today we got a lock on our new mailing address and scheduled our move-in appointment for July 7th.  Yeehaw!  Conch-themed address labels anyone ...dare me, dare me please!  I was in fact so elated at this final piece today that I dang near forgot to follow up on my job status today.  Shame on me!  Not that it mattered ... still no rays of sunshine on the teaching front, I'm afraid.

So just to recap briefly (if only because I'm just so silly tired I could sleep 'til Sunday):

July 2nd - We pick up our moving truck and pack 'er up! 

July 3rd -  Scrub-a-dub-dub ... and one last good-bye to our beautiful Virginia home.  Reminder note to self:  The memories travel to Key West with us both.  The house is just the vessel.  Repeat. 

July 3rd (still ....) - Say prayer that adorable house sells quickly.

July 4th - Arrive at my parents in time for cocktail hour!

July 5th - Leave for Sarasota to swap leather sofa for Chop's mom, who has graciously agreed to help us with the littlest one for the first few days ('littlest one' needs a super cool alias here, don'cha think? ... comments, comments??).  Ah, yes.  Cocktail hour in Sota too.

July 6th - Last leg down to Mile Marker 0, otherwise known as "the rock" ... drop off precious pooch at Pampered Pet for a 2-day doggie vacay.  Check into Navy lodging and .... dinner at ??? ... still deciding!

July 7th - Hello Key West!

Take Good Care of My Man, Uncle Sam!

It's official!  Effective June 20th, Uncle Sam and my man Chop will be joined at the hip for the next 18-24 months.  Okaaaaay, now we're rollin'!  Chop turned in his letter of resignation a week ago and plans to work right up through the 17th, essentially facilitating a smooth transition from civilian to Lieutenant with merely a weekend in between.  I'm not sure he would have had it any other way, quite honestly.  Though ready and anxious to move forward with his Navy crew, he genuinely cares about many of his closest colleagues here at home. Some of those peeps are particularly special, and I hope they'll always know that.       

That two-day window weekend, as a matter of fact, is my birthday weekend.  Celebrations will be order one way or another.  I don't dare miss an opportunity for cake ... even if it's my own!  ;) 

Are we nervous?  Hell yes!

So here we are in the midst of our big transition, but I also feel a sense of peace about the home that awaits us in Key West.  A renewed spirit, you might say.  Though Chop will be required to travel back and forth between his unit in Virginia and the southernmost rock frequently over the next few months, we will have ample time for some of the more important preparations that come with his long-term deployment.  By then, I expect to be working in one capacity or another, the littlest tot will be in preschool, and we'll have some semblance of order and comfort established in our day-to-day routines. 

Our next step is a final confirmation for our housing and the moving truck ... followed by some no-joke packing.  As in maybe-if-I-accidentally-pack-up-the-kitchen-first-I-won't-have-to-cook-for-three-weeks  kind of packing!  Whooooopsie!  Time to shake some tail feathers, darlin's ... it's show time!