Around the Banks

Around the banks of the Suwannee, I am reminded of a song learned in childhood from the late "Cousin" Thelma Boltin, a longtime mistress of ceremonies for the Florida Folk Festival at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. She taught us:  "You can plant a watermelon up above my grave,  and let the juice slurp (make a slurping sound) through, Just plant a watermelon up above my grave, that's all I ask of you. Now, a chocolate chip cookie, it tastes mighty fine But nothing quite as pleasing as that watermelon rind, So plant a watermelon up above my grave and let the juice slurp through." The Southern summer outdoor events often center around barbecues, fish f