A Very Jolly Night
	Dear Janice, It was 1965. I was a young budding artist of twenty-three. I had graduated from The Tampa Academy of Fine Arts by helping drive and deliver produce in the family's produce business. My paintings were selling well and it seemed like I couldn't paint fast enough. My name was just starting to be recognized in art and society circles in Tampa. One of the best clients and supporters of my work was Blanchard Jolly of St. Petersburg. He was the architect who had designed Busch Gardens (long before I worked there) and the new, then, St, Joseph's Hospital. I knew B. because he was married to Becky who had grown up directly across the street from us on Ellicott. Clifford, the driver of the "invisible car" was her younger brother. By the time my art career was starting to catch on Becky and B. had purchased probably eight of my paintings. One day I got a call from Becky saying that they were moving into their new home that B. had designed. I knew it would be spectacular. They were having a large party to show the house and I was invited. All of the upper crust of St. Petersburg would be there including the mayor. I actually wasn't real anxious to go because to me I was still that little kid on Ellicott Street that sat on the front steps in the sunshine or drew little drawings of mermaids for you while you looked over the edge of the table in our dining room. Becky said that they had designed a special gallery in the new house to display my paintings. A permanent exhibit, I couldn't resist seeing that so I said I'd be there. I got my only little suit and tie together and drove to St. Petersburg to attended the gala party. B. had outdone himself. It was two story with the upper floor being only the bedroom that hung out over the indoor swimming pool. There was no bedroom wall to the side over the pool below, just a safety railing and veil curtains. Around the pool the place was crowded with guests. There were four or five fairly large palm trees around the pool as well that to me came uncomfortably close to the ceiling. I asked B. "What are you going to do when the palm trees reach the ceiling?" He said "Oh, I'll just cut a hole in the roof and let them grow right on through." I'm sure he was just kidding. I stepped back, looking up to see just how close they were to the roof and all of a sudden I fell right into the swimming pool with all my clothes and shoes on. The party STOPPED! A group of kind people in their very nice clothes pulled me out of the water and I was led to the utility room where the clothes dryer was and was given a large towel. Everyone was so nice to me. They even applauded when I emerged about thirty minutes later all dry and tomato faced. The gallery was definitely a hit. B. Jolly thought it was the biggest hoot in the world and Becky and I still laugh about it. To this day I can still hear the sound of my shoes squishing as I was walking away from the pool after falling in. Lynn