My Daughter, the Floridian

We've been living in FLA for about three years now. It's basically the only place my 4-year-old daughter has ever known; her Maryland birthplace is now but a tidy entry in the Baby Book. As far as Kid Lulu is concerned, she's a Sunshine Stater through and through. And this weekend, she was proud to let the world know.

On Sunday, I took Lu to Gatorland, "the Alligator Capital of the World." (For Pop Lifers, we went with "Guy," whom you might know as a loyal bloggist and friend of Sparky.) It's the quintessential Florida experience: gator feeding (you throw 'em turkey dogs), gator cuddling, gator eating (I ordered the gator nuggets -- delicious with just a hint of guilt), plus crocs, snakes, parrots and a creepy swamp stroll. I highly recommend the experience, however, fair warning: Gatorland goes out of its way to reinforce the redneck stereotype. One show featured wacky inbred cousins trying to feed chickens to ticked off American alligators. I squirmed; Lu cheered.

Anyway, the last show of the day was the Gator Wrestlin' throwdown. It began with a history lesson, as a guy dressed like Indiana Jones' corpulent cousin explained where the term "Florida cracker" comes from (the crack of a cattle-drive whip, he reasoned). He was proud to be a native Floridian, he said. "How many other Florida crackers are here?!" he bellowed. Tourists from England and Australia and Pittsburgh and Virginia kept their arms down, maybe out of shyness, maybe out of unease.

"Where are my Florida CRACKERS at?!" he repeated.

And then, slowly, one little hand lifted into the air. This tiny hand was connected to a tiny arm which was connected to a wee curly-headed blond girl whose mother and father grew up in the Northeast. But this little blond girl has no concept of sledding or lobsters or the Red Sox. Nope, this girl knows Rays and beaches and gators. In fact, two blocks from her house, there's a canal that has gator in it.

Yep, Kid Lulu, her hand high in the air, was proud to be a Florida cracker.

I wasn't sure how to handle this one. If Ice Cube calls me a cracker, it's not a good thing. However, I was touched by Lu's sense of origin. She's from Florida, and she's proud of that. In a way, I'm a little jealous. So here are a few tunes for my oldest daughter, a smart, beautiful, kind young girl giving Florida crackers a good name.

Floridays -- Jimmy Buffett
Down South -- Tom Petty
Swamp -- Talking Heads
Tallahassee Lassie -- Freddie Cannon
St. Pete Blues -- Ray Charles
Sunshine on My Shoulder -- John Denver
Alley-Gator -- ZZ Top
Crocodile Rock -- Elton John

Comments

[Bassnote]

Sunshine - Jonathan Edwards
Drive South - John Hiatt
Sunshine In The Shade - The Fixx
Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
Southern Accents - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
It's Raining Again - Supertramp
Clubland - Elvis Costello
Goin' Back To Miami - Blues Brothers
State Of Confusion - The Kinks
Sweet Freedom - Michael McDonald (I always associate this song with Florida for some reason.)

[sparky]

SD, did Lulu come back with all her figures and toes? You and Guy together at Gatorland, that's a scary thought. Kind of reminds me of when Steve Irwin dangle his son over the croc.

[Sean Daly]

Guy actually ponied up to "wrestle" a gator with its maw taped up. PETA must love that place.

[sparky]

If you beat the gator, do you have a choice of prizes (i.e. Gator skin wallet or belt)?

[Ron]

Orange Blossom Special (Multiple Covers. My favorite is Asleep at the Wheel.)
Going back to Miami (Multiple Covers. My favorite is the Blues Brothers.)
Everyone's got a cousin in Miami - Jimmy Buffett.

[jane]

tell Lulu that I'm forming a Proud to Be a Florida Cracker club and she can be the very first member. Florida girls are the best girls around. Next time: an airboat ride through the Withlacooche River swamp!

[Jeff in Cuba]

I'm proud to say that a) I am a Florida resident, and will be mailing my absentee ballot to the Sunshine State this November, and b) I still have my Gatorland keychain with the photo of me and my then 4-year-old daughter holding a baby gator.

[jane]

Oh! Song recommendations!
"see you later alligator" -- Bill Haley & the Comets
"We Are the Boys from Old Florida" -- unversity of Florida fight song (spears & I will be happy to sing this for y'all)

[Clark]

I've always been intrigued by the idea of visiting Gatorland. Now I'm obsessed. I've GOT to go!

[Melissa]

Some of the best years of my life were spent in Pensacola and Panama City. No matter where I am, I'll always consider Florida "home".

[jane]

I'm thinking a field trip to Gatorland is in order -- I can't believe I've never been. Bad native Floridian! Bad native Floridian!

[Carla]

Bassnote... I think you associate "Sweet Freedom" with Florida, becaused it's used as a song in the movie "Running Scared" with Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines. Plays while they are having fun in the keys!! Great song!

[Bill]

Sounds like Lulu needs a 'Lone Cabbage Fish Camp' t-shirt.