We were isolated from the world by more than the toll bridge. If
atmospherics were just right, we could pick up one or two television
stations all the way from Tampa, otherwise we had Channel 11 out of
Fort Myers. If it wasn’t on CBS, you simply weren’t watching it.
Many of us who grew up here get nostalgic for an era that can never
be again. The fi rst annual “Boca Kids” reunion was held in August 2009,
organized by Jackie Fogarty and Julie Camp. After three successful and
growing annual reunions (nearly 200 attended the third) the amount
of work needed to organize them became like a full-time job. Things
were scaled back to just a couple dozen of us and our get-togethers
were dubbed ‘BocaPalooza’ from then on. We rent golf carts for the
weekend and make the rounds of The Temp, The Pink, Miller’s and
eventually commandeer the courtyard at the Innlet, where most of
us stay. In addition to generally catching up with the events of our lives and regaling
one another with tales (some of them true) from our childhoods, we’ve also had sunset
ceremonies to honor those who have gone before us. Those were
touching and meaningful, and I think our loved ones would be
pleased.
Through each reunion and BocaPalooza we agree the island is
one aspect but the people we were, and have become, are what
matter. The Boca Grande of our youth is gone and that’s okay. It is
still the most beautiful place in the world to all of us who grew up
here and it will always be home in our hearts.
Grant Bell is a fi fth generation Floridian from Boca Grande.
He works in Washington, DC. You may contact him at
BocaGrant@gmail.com.
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