A photo of a neighborhood cafe that I took in April, 1973 on St. Simons Island, off the Georgia coast:
Hazel’s still stands, at 1166 Demere Rd on St. Simons Island, GA. If you google the street view, you’ll notice the paint is long gone and the car no longer lurks in the background.
My maternal grandparents retired from Manhattan to a rambling home on neighboring Sea Island in the early 1960’s. We spent Easter vacations there every year. When I was old enough to drive I would borrow the car and go exploring. The best finds were places like this, that exemplified the island’s rich history, or discovering a small treasure trove of old 45’s (Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie) in a little record store on the mainland. I explored a marshy pond off a back road and found alligators – a little too close for comfort – and a black bird called a Smooth-billed Ani, which was very rare in Georgia.
Some things endure, some don’t.
I’m white, and the privilege of my race and class afforded me many wonderful experiences in Georgia back then. Not so much the local African American population, most of whom were employed in service to whites, worked long hours and likely didn’t have the time and freedom to wander around anywhere they wanted, in search of interesting sights.
The ease of being Caucasian endures in this country, and the challenges of being African American can still be life-threatening.
Hazel’s cafe apparently endures too; unfortunately I lost the 45’s. The nameless cafe in the header photo is probably long gone, and alligators are probably scarce in the area, with all the developments and golf courses, but the Smooth billed Ani is still considered a vagrant in Georgia.
bluebrightly 
So many layers to this post that I find truly touching.
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Such a nice comment Maya, thank you.
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Great read….
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Good! thanks a lot Sue.
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I agree, so many layers here… It’s a short post, but so rich! It feeds me with curiosity (I did “walk” to the house in google maps), with nostalgia and of course, with humility. Your personal story became something much more than just personal.
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Wonderful to hear. I didn’t know it was still there because I haven’t been to the area in decades. I googled “Hazel’s Cafe” and there it was – still standing, and the subject of other people’s photographs too, but they all seem to be more recent. Thanks for your generous comment.
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It’s so true about never being able to go back but your evocative photos and memories take us all with you to the core of what once was.
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You’re someone who knows about the core of what IS! So thanks Patti. And hey, think what you might do down there, even today! If you ever get a chance, the Sea Islands are extraordinary for their haunting beauty, history and culture.
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The nostalgia here is moving and your humility touching Lynn. Smashing post.
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I thank you my friend!
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Amazing what the intersection of memory, poetry, and a little bit of modern technology can do. Touching.
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Intersection and interplay…thank you –
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A really nice vintage image that (for me) recalls William Christenberry’s work. Do you have lots more of these Lynn?
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I’m embarrassed to say I had to look him up – I should know him. Well, now I do, so thanks very much. Interesting life story (Wiki) and beautiful work. Sadly, I have no more – just this and the header one, which isn’t as nice. But I have other photos from decades ago I’ll be posting that make it clear certain themes have been present for me a long time. A long time.
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Interesting commentary and eye-catching photo. Good choice for the challenge.
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Thank you Tina – too bad the image isn’t more in focus but most of the old ones aren’t. Still, it comes across. Maybe you’ve seen a few similar places in your travels…
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What a great photo…alone it speaks so much, but to also have your commentary ~ brings so much to the photo. Great writing, great photo, great post!
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That one photo says so much, as your narrative reflects.
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A powerful story with a simple picture … in appearance. Beyond appearance is the essence that says a lot.
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You have used an ‘ordinary’ image as the trigger for a compelling commentary, both reflective and thought-provoking. The result is beautifully rounded post.
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Wonderfully nostalgic and a very thought provoking post!
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