Naples Potpourri by Bill Barnett

I couldn’t resist sharing the following that a friend of mine sent to me. The author is unknown, but I can’t begin to tell you how many times over the last 48 years I would have liked to use
this.

RESPECT NAPLES WELCOME
You came here from there because you didn’t like there and now you want to change here to be like there.

We are not racist, phobic or anti whateveryou-are, we simply like here the way it is and most of us actually came here because it is not like there, wherever there was. You are welcome here, but please stop trying to make here like there. If you want here to be like there you should not have left there to come here, and you are cordially invited to leave here and go back there at your earliest
convenience.

It has been one heck of a year and I think we have turned the corner and, on our way, to beat this pandemic. On a personal note, I find it difficult to put into words the emotional roller coaster that I have been on and it seems like I’m definitely not alone. The friends I have lost to COVID-19 are more than painful. Wearing a mask has become a daily routine and candidly I can’t stand it, but that’s the way it has to be. I am thankful to be in Florida as opposed to so many other states. I am thankful we have a Governor here who “gets it”. I feel terrible for my young friends who live south of Buffalo where we go in the summer. They had worked so hard to build a thriving salon, and when New York closed for the second time they lost their business.

Many of the restaurants up there as well have closed. Every night when I watch the national news, I
get an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach watching the pain that folks across our nation are feeling on a daily basis. I guess if I had to sum up all my thoughts and feelings in one word it would
be helpless. Now don’t misread me because I am and have always been the eternal optimist! I do see a bright side on a daily basis.

Each day there seems to be some bright pictures being portrayed and now with the vaccines rolling I am enthusiastic that normal will be something we will get to
see down the road whereas six months ago I would have had a hard time making that statement.

There have certainly been some mixed statements being made in Naples these days. A huge article in the paper said lack of tourism has hurt us this season and yet I know for a fact that our real estate market is literally booming. My realtor friends are having a hard time keeping up with the pace of sales and loving every minute of it.

Businesses in general are having a fine season and I’m not sure that article was correct. On a final note for those of you that are leaving this month and heading in different directions I wish you a safe and healthy Spring and Summer and hope you will be back to visit us again next Season. I always say the same thing when closing, we are blessed to be in Naples, Florida!

Retired Mayor,

Bill Barnett

Stay safe!
e-mail me at mayornaples@gmail.com

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