Claire Karssiens

An almost magical memoir of a young child growing up in the backwoods north of Tampa, FL during the Depression. Her parents were educated and quirky. After the crash and his loss in real estate, her father moved the family to a rural area to start over with an orange grove. This account is the author's memories of her childhood from about 6 to about 12 -- ranging wild in the woods and sloughs, attending a one-room school-house, staying with grandparents in Dunedin and Sarasota, discovering the intimate details of the nature and society surrounding her.

Karssiens, who spent her adult life abroad teaching in international schools and who has retired with husband to Florida's Gulf Coast, came to the college and read from her book and engaged with audience sharing her experience. A truly delightful experience.

The barn was mysterious and scary. We weren't afraid of the big blacksnakes that slipped behind barrels and disappeared under straw as we entered the barn, their scales flashing in a shaft of light from the oopen door. We knew they wouldn't bother us. They were searching for corn rats, mice, and eggs. But sometimes we heard the staccato whir-r-r of a rattlesnake, and we knew we were in danger. Rattlers were timid and terrified of the blacksnakes, but when their food supply was scarce int he palmetto thickets and pine stands, they were forced to come into the barn and hunt . … (meer)