JFK: It Was 46 Years Ago Today

46 years ago, on November 18, 1963, President John Fitzgerald Kennedy arrived in Tampa for a day of public events and speeches. Just four days later, on this date, President Kennedy would ride in his last motorcade as it moved through the streets of Dallas, Texas. His assassination shocked and saddened our nation and people throughout the world. To those in Tampa who had just experienced the excitement and vigor of our young president, his visit still fresh in their minds, it was numbing and especially hard to believe.

In 1964, by unanimous vote of Tampa City Council, the road which was originally Lafayette Street and later Grand Central Avenue, was renamed John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Part of his visit that November day to Tampa took him on Grand Central Avenue, past the spot where I took this photo. The sculptor Bernard Zuckerman created this statue in honor of Kennedy. It stands in a small plaza designed by architect Cesar Alfonso on the campus of the University of Tampa and faces the boulevard that was renamed in honor of the slain president.

That's My WORLD Tuesday: This couple is looking very cool on a steamy hot afternoon

Back on April 25th, I featured a happening young couple out making the scene on South Howard Avenue in South Tampa's SoHo District. I noted that they dressed well, for the young, professional crowd they obviously hung with, and were probably making their way through all the many popular bars and restaurants from Kennedy Boulevard down to the Bayshore. Now I (practically) run into another pair of rockin' folks (cousins) looking a bit lost and misplaced standing on the sidewalk alongside busy, noisy and very steamy hot Kennedy Boulevard. They are too far away to be heading to SoHo, and it's only lunchtime, so maybe they are waiting for friends, a bus or that's their black Range Rover parked to the side. Very likely looking at the way they appear, and seeing the black wheels on the Rover. Yep, their wheels. So the scenario plays out. He's trying to look his best - check out that skull belt buckle - while she's a bit tousled and unsteady in her 10-inch high heels. And the short skirt looks cool and comfortable in today's 90+ degree weather. But, still, the total package looks a tad inappropriate on Kennedy at the noon hour unless she is in a particular line of work. No, no, they have just finished lunch and will jump in the Rover any second and head home to the house full of kids and their work-from-home careers. I couldn't get him or her to speak a word so it'll forever remain a mystery. Let's all just assume the best and leave them to stand around and preen for the passing traffic. She must though get that hair off her eyes and her head on straight. Doesn't she see he's really trying very hard to communicate? It's a tough life sometimes. They'll work it out but it won't be easy. They are both terribly hardheaded.


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