Article by Marty Townsend
Naples, Florida has the prettiest beaches you would ever want to see.
While growing up there I lived in East Naples.
When I first started to school they were building a new Elementary school just across the street. It was not finished in time for my first year so I took the school bus to Lake Park Elementary School.
After Shadowlawn Elementary was finished we just walked across the street to school.
At the time I never realized this was such a treat. You see we had walked to our church since I was old enough to remember and that was just two houses away from my home.
My childhood friends were always over at my home. My parents always made the neighborhood friends feel welcome.
Even when I was having to dig up sandspurs out of our yard, one of my most faithful friends would be there to help me till I got the yard done.
My Dad had several renter homes that we had next to our home so there was always something to do.
I remember when Hurricane Donna came in 1960. The house nextdoor lost its roof and it landed over in the school yard.
My dad and I rode down to the beach to look at the rough water. I found a pocket knife that had been washed up by the storm. I kept it for many years.
The home we were living in at that time remained intact through the storm. We had gone to an Uncles home on Kelly Road to be with other family. We watched the water come up to the windows with snakes and other critters seeking higher ground.
It was very exciting to us kids, they had stacked up box springs and mattresses for the children to sleep on in case the water came into the house.
During the eye of the storm our parents took us to another Uncles home. His home was kinda on a hill. They loaded us all up into a dump truck and took us to higher ground.
To us kids it was just fun being with our cousins. We never thought to fear the storms.
I had the same friends through most of my school years. We still keep in contact with each other to this day.
Naples was a great place to grow up and be a part of.
About the Author
Marty is a self proclaimed yard sale expert and loves bed and brreakfasts hotels . Marty especially like to find a cheap bed and breakfast.