It is an anomaly in my brain I'm sure but I find Key West signs to be absolutely fascinating. This lurid notice has been posted for a few weeks now at the two entrances to the cemetery and if it's intent isn't clear you aren't paying attention.
There was a brouhaha recently when the back gate on Frances Street was closed unilaterally by the Sexton who got upset with people being disrespectful in his domain. That action reminded everyone that not everywhere in Key West is for sale or for profit and after some harried negotiations the city prevailed to have the back gate open for pedestrians and cyclists and the through route is open once again. But the signs are there, a thinly veiled reminder that not respecting Key west's dead will bring retribution. I found this principled stand by the Sexton rather refreshing in a world gone mad for commerce. 
This memorial plaque prominently displayed at the entrance gate took me aback. I knew Cheryl and it is rather a shock to realise that I am at last of an age to find reminders of my own mortality at the cemetery. She lived next door to me when I lived at anchor off Rat Key north of Key West. This elderly picture is from the early 90's if I recall correctly. She lived with birds dogs and briefly with a hedgehog on her boat. And now she is in the cemetery.
This next sign expresses perfectly the frustration and the very neighborly reason for the pleasantly worded plea.
Stealing fruit from a tree is theft and clearly the owner of these magnificent trees has a perfectly good use for the abundant harvest. I rode past the sign and had to circle the block (Olivia Street is one way) to capture this perfectly worded note.
Go Conchs indeed. Conchs (the aitch is silent as my colleague Karl is fond of saying) do like their local sports and the high school Conchs (say "konk") are closely followed.
I have watched the actual mollusks walking painfully slowly across the floor of the sandbanks of the Bahamas and encouraging a conch to "go" has a nicely absurd ring to it. but around here it's deadly serious business on the playing field.
There was a brouhaha recently when the back gate on Frances Street was closed unilaterally by the Sexton who got upset with people being disrespectful in his domain. That action reminded everyone that not everywhere in Key West is for sale or for profit and after some harried negotiations the city prevailed to have the back gate open for pedestrians and cyclists and the through route is open once again. But the signs are there, a thinly veiled reminder that not respecting Key west's dead will bring retribution. I found this principled stand by the Sexton rather refreshing in a world gone mad for commerce. This memorial plaque prominently displayed at the entrance gate took me aback. I knew Cheryl and it is rather a shock to realise that I am at last of an age to find reminders of my own mortality at the cemetery. She lived next door to me when I lived at anchor off Rat Key north of Key West. This elderly picture is from the early 90's if I recall correctly. She lived with birds dogs and briefly with a hedgehog on her boat. And now she is in the cemetery.This next sign expresses perfectly the frustration and the very neighborly reason for the pleasantly worded plea.
Stealing fruit from a tree is theft and clearly the owner of these magnificent trees has a perfectly good use for the abundant harvest. I rode past the sign and had to circle the block (Olivia Street is one way) to capture this perfectly worded note.Go Conchs indeed. Conchs (the aitch is silent as my colleague Karl is fond of saying) do like their local sports and the high school Conchs (say "konk") are closely followed. 
I have watched the actual mollusks walking painfully slowly across the floor of the sandbanks of the Bahamas and encouraging a conch to "go" has a nicely absurd ring to it. but around here it's deadly serious business on the playing field.
4 comments:
I thought for sure you had been against the gate closing, but maybe I'm misremembering.
I opposed the closure of the gate because it was done with no discussion or public input and the cemetery is public. However the commission acted finally to get the gate opened ( I never thought they'd have the nerve!) and I think the Sexton made his point. And continues to make it with the ugly signs.
I actually think powered two wheelers should be allowed in the cemetery but how does one rely on the good sense of people to kake that a possibility? Watch renters riding public streets and you'll see what I mean.
I don't think the two-wheeled variants should be allowed in the cemetery at all. You know how obnoxious the Conch Train Tour buses are, you know.
The dead deserve *some* peace and respect.
Greg P. In WV, where our dead are really, really dead. Still.
The comment for Cheryl about being
"we are all here cause we aren't there," could apply to many situations not just the local burying grounds. Although the word
"bury" is a misnomer in Key West perhaps.
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