It's just my opinion, but...why?

Change is such a simple word. Yet, the fallout from a change can be likened to a stone sent to ripple a body of water. If you come to know anything about me through this site, you will learn that change is the only constant in my life. Although Bill may have a different story to tell (particularly when a new cancer crisis is thrown at me) most times, I try to approach change with a positive attitude. In fact, it has been said that I was probably a cheerleader in a former life.

So how can I explain the way I feel about the change we discovered upon our last arrival into Key West? Most of our trips to Key West originate from Louisville's airport on Southwest Airlines with a designation point of Ft. Lauderdale. From there, a rental car is taken down the now familiar US-1, eagerly approaching the 0 Mile Marker. We pass the miles with a healthy game of 'Name that Quote', although Bill is always the winner of that game! How can you win against someone who knows each episode by heart?

The last few miles are spent in the usual anticipation of being 'home' again. Who will we see? What will we investigate? How much can we cram into the few short days we are in town?

Since our April 2002 trip, it is our tradition to visit Coconut Mallory/Gumbo's as soon as we arrive into town. Sheriff Cody would probably say that it is our grounding center. We usually visit it several times while there and it is always the last place we visit before leaving Key West.

Gumbo's was our first real 'find'. Our April 2002 trip introduced us to Suzi and with a smile on her face that came from her heart, she pointed us toward Coconut Mallory and the location of Gumbo's bar. With map in hand, following her directions, we set out biking across the island. We had huge anticipation in actually finding this important piece of the puzzle. Flagler Ave ended, and there we were – at Coconut Mallory. Riding into the complex, the pace of our hearts quickened, as it was clearly right before us – Gumbo's! Of course, there was no signage and it had been stripped of the dancer's stage and Tickle Pink's cage, yet it was Gumbo's, nonetheless.

From the moment we entered this open aired shelter, we stepped into another world where time stopped and our imaginations started. Initial excitement made us rush inside. I expected Leland Crooke to be wiping off the bar and to shout a greeting to us as we entered. It was that real.

I closed my eyes and the sights and sounds of those well-worn episodes flooded my brain. I could feel the passion of the performances that had taken place in this very space almost ten years before. I could taste the beer flowing from the tap. I could hear the laughter coming from all directions. I could smell the food brought from the kitchen and could feel such comfort from those same walls surrounding us. Even the license plates, books and bottles on the walls remained. Fishing nets still hung from the ceiling.

It was easy to anticipate Savannah walking through the door at any moment, expecting her to call you 'Su-gar' or 'Ba-by'', or JoJo to walk in, slap you on the back and offer you a 'drink mon'. Seamus could have been sitting at a table contemplating a deep thought, having one eye on the angelic Rikki. Cole was there, with a cane in his hand, banging on the floor commanding our attention. The dock reminded us of Hunter tying off the Lucky Strike while smelling the fish he was delivering. There was a trunk on the porch that I felt it could be opened at any minute to find that it held only a very small, very important white clown's suit and shoes.

I remember a flurry of activity, buzzing from one location or viewing angle to another: 'Look, this is where Savannah and the Mayor sat at the bar after Admiral 'Dead Delbert' died.' 'Remember when JoJo told Rikki and Gumbo that the Immigration Service was after him? They were right here!'

After that, quiet followed, as scene after scene revealed themselves. Images rose up like spirits awakening at a seance. It was not unlike the moment when Gumbo opened CiCi's trunk and her spirit came to life.

To this day, I will never be able to say exactly how much time we spent in that special place that afternoon. But I can tell you one thing. On that bright day in April, the past caught up with the present and we stood with our comrades on that hallowed ground.

Another reason this place was so special to us is that it was the one constant reminder of the show that remained. As I said before, the place grounded us. Whatever the circumstances for visiting the island, we could return to this quiet place and renew our purpose and continue our quest for information about the show and for this website. On our November 2003 trip we even arrived at Gumbo's at 9 p.m. on a Tuesday night (the original time and place in which the show aired). We parked the rental car along side the bar and played the theme song on the CD player. It seemed to be a fitting tribute – a time capsule moment. Our timing was completely accidental. We didn't even realize the coincidence until we were crossing the last bridge onto the island. Nor did we know yet that this would be a bit of a farewell in some ways.

Our last trip to the island began in Louisville in April 2004. As we came over the bridge from Stock Island and entering Key West in our rental car, we first noticed a strange glow in the sky over Gumbo's. Could it be that they had added new lights? Apprehension gripped my heart.

Turning into the drive of Coconut Mallory, it was soon apparent that change was in the air. Paneling had replaced the old familiar, boathouse walls. No longer was the focus on the dusty books, empty bottles and other items that were once the bar's decoration.

The bar itself had been moved, the round entranceway had been transformed into a wall, and the boat, the Manolito, was moved to the outside porch. Gone was the charm and character of the former boathouse, which had become the show's favorite drinking establishment - Gumbo's. There was even a brand new television now hanging over the bar itself.

Of course, it was cleaner, more modern and certainly up to any necessary building code. Even I would have to admit it was ready to serve customers. But as I walked the area, my heart was broken. Gone were my friends.

Returning home, we were told that Gumbo's is being restored. The changes were apparently made to accommodate decay that had occurred over the years. The new owner is enthusiastic and has great plans for the place. The name Gumbo's is to return and still photos of the cast will be hung on the walls. The open-air atmosphere will be changed and a garage door will be added for security. The Manolito will become a live bait tank with shrimp and crab. Once again, there will be laughter and activity in this space.

Why let the change bother me? Several reasons, I suppose. Purely emotional, I know. But with the cancer returning and my life so drastically out of control, I want things to remain the same. I want the comfort of returning to my beloved Key West and finding my special place untouched. I want the work that these few actors did in such a short period of time to be remembered.

I'm not opposed to all change, but I wonder why couldn't the walls maintain the character of the original boathouse walls? Paneling, however modern, seems to shut out the old, rustic feel. I wonder most of all why remove the rounded doorway to close off the entrance and seemingly wall out the world? I'm sure the answer is obvious to a new business owner - for security and to maintain the proper city building codes.

Life goes on and change happens as much as one may hate it. I wish the new owner the very best and I will visit the new Gumbo's. But there is one thing I know. No one can change the memories that were made in that special place. Thank God for those 13 endearing short-lived episodes! In my heart, that will simply have to be enough.