Piddling with Doug
^^ Watch the video for all the photos from my time Piddling with Doug… and read all about him below!
“Good morning this beautiful Thursday. Wonderful morning for the early beach roamers. I plan on getting my excercise in today by piddling in my backyard doing odds and ends until Mother Nature with her humidity or rain friends force me to take a little rest. Medicial day yesterday went very well. Got released from my weekly lab and heart doctor visits and back to the normal period for check ups. Hoping it stays like that for awhile. Got my weekly errands done so I’m good to piddle the remainder of the week in my yard and with my stamps; maybe some house chores also . Stopped by Home Depot yesterday and bought some pintas that will be placed in my wild flower garden in back that I’m redoing. Hope to have the remodeling of that garden done next week if all goes well. On my Starbucks journey this morning I noticed most stations on my Mayport Road/Atlantic Blvd were $2.87-$2.89. The independent station on Plaza and Mayport Road was still $2.79 and the 76 station on Atlantic Blvd was still the highest at $3.09. The 76 station on Mayport Road and A1A got its price sign fixed and is open. Have a wonderful day; hope everything goes well for all and the weather is bearable where ever you reside.”
~ Doug Medelberg via Facebook Atlantic Beach Group page
I “met” Doug on Facebook, like a lot of other Atlantic Beach residents have. His posts are unlike anyone else’s—they’re not asking for anything or telling anyone they’re wrong for thinking a certain way. They’re not meant to educate or entice; he’s not selling anything, and he never writes a word that would be considered to be poking any kind of bear. He just wants to connect. He usually begins each post with some sort of good morning wish to the reader. Good morning, happy Sunday. He then posts about his daily trip to Starbucks, he reports the gas prices he sees along the way and how the air feels; he talks about his three roommates (they’re cats), and he talks about “piddling” in his backyard. I just love that he uses that word. Piddling. You can almost picture what that means. Recently, he spent three weeks in the hospital. Doug kept all of Atlantic Beach informed of what tests he was having done, how he was feeling, and how badly he wished he could just be… piddling.
The first time I read one of his posts I thought to myself… who is this wackadoodle? I think I may have even scoffed. Yes, scoffed. I didn’t know anything about him, or if he even actually lived in Atlantic Beach… we attract some trolls on the Facebook page. His post was so benevolent and vulnerable and detailed… it was so kind that it seemed out of place and was almost off-putting. Isn’t that weird—it was so good nartured that I was turned off. This guy is just posting about his day? Why should I read this… and moreover why should I care? Posting gas prices? Surely that’s some sort of political stance. No thanks.
The second time I read one of Doug’s posts… who is this wackadoodle?
The third time I read one of Doug’s posts… who is this wackadoodle?
The fourth time I read one of Doug’s posts… WHO is this interesting character? And I started to care. And I started to love the sweetness of the posts and the sheer innocence of what might be considered by some as mundane details. All he was doing was trying to connect with people he probably didn’t even know through his unguarded, diary-like posts. It turns out a lot of people love his posts as much as I do now. I thought to myself… I must photograph this man piddling.
Rolling up to his house, my little eyes spied all kinds of creatures hanging out… a gorilla, raccoon, a pig and a goose, a squirrel…. I was definitely being watched from all angles.
Though the gap in two cat-decaled gates, I saw Doug already hard at piddle. He’d instructed me on Messenger to just come on in, so that’s what I did. And I finally met the 84-year-old Atlantic Beach Facebook group celebrity in person. There he was. Doug Medelberg.
Doug came to the Jacksonville area in 1974, compliments of the Navy. When he moved into this house in 1979, he planted a then foot-high cypress tree that he brought home in a coffee can. It’s a gorgeous, massive tree now, with roots that spread the entirety of the backyard. Symbolic, yes?
For nearly two hours we talked and he piddled. I don’t want to just sit around on the couch. I like to be doing things. This is my gym.
It was hot. As we talked, I invited him into the shade, as I was sweating my ass off. No, I like the sun. It’s good to be in the sun. It’s healthy. I asked him how he learned gardening and how he planned out this gorgeous backyard oasis. His answer… If I think it, I do it. People don’t trust their instincts anymore. 90% of the time they’re right. I made the joke that maybe that percentage is quite a bit lower for men.
He showed me around and talked about certain plants, like his “boobie bush,” which made him giggle a little, and a rose bush that he planted from his wife’s funeral. This is my Monica plant. She passed away December 1, 2009 …they were married for 52 years after marrying at the age of 19. Fifty-two years!!!
The Boobie Bush
“If I think it, I do it. People don’t trust their instincts anymore. 90% of the time they’re right.”
The Monica Plant
At one point, I looked down and I had to make a photo of his shoes. This is totally something that my own dad would do. Doug… you gotta tell me…what’s up with your shoes. He looked down and laughed. Oh … I’m homeless! Funny thing to say as we stood in his beautiful backyard. These are my favorite work shoes… they’re comfortable! They’re so comfortable. // How long have you had those shoes, Doug? // Eight or nine years.
Those shoes …have seen a lot of piddling.
I also had to ask Doug about the gas prices. What is up with reporting gas prices every day? What does that mean to you? // Well, I just think it’s helpful for people. I hope it’s helpful. And I hope that people in the nursing homes can read my posts and know what’s going on outside.
The main attraction of Doug’s kitschy space is his super cool pond. It’s home to real fish, and creatures (including a hippo!) and plants galore. The Virgin Mary stands guard to make sure everyone is safe and gets along. Where did you get all these creatures and statues? They make it so fun back here. // Mostly garage sales over the years.
No fishing or swimming in Doug’s pond, please.
The backyard not only looks magical, but sounds magical — Doug floods in classical music for his plants all day long. I’m telling you … it’s really easy to forget your problems when you’re in Doug’s backyard.
I recently received a message from Doug since I made his photos that just sums him up so well. I had let him know he’d inspired me to get some flowers for my front yard, even though I’m really good at killing them, unfortunately. His response: Sipping my wake up coffee before i depart on my Starbucks journey and my advice to you about your hoping your plants live that you planted is; never speak harshly to them and ensure they stay hydrated in this weather. I’ll be rooting for you to be successful. I responded, Coffee before Starbucks! Now I see where you get your energy. And then he said one of my favorite things, My coffee at home in the morning is my awakener and day planning time. My Starbucks is my celebration drink to start the day.
Celebration drink to start the day. I love that. I do think I will look at adding more little celebrations throughout my day.
I wasn’t really expecting Doug to be as utterly delightful as he is, and I wasn’t expecting the little funky paradise he’s created. I just wanted to know what piddling in Atlantic Beach looked like. But, turns out, he is quite fantastic—Funny, quirky, kind; a lover of nature and animals. And he drops nuggets of wisdom constantly. I absolutely adored my time with Doug … and hope to meet him for a morning celebration drink when the weather is a little cooler—I’m not as weather-tough as he is. I’m so glad I got to meet him in person, not just on social media. He is a treasure … so if you ever get invited over to watch him piddle… go. Or better yet… invite yourself like I did. I’m sure he’ll welcome you with open arms, but be warned there will likely be some sort of garden tool in one of them. •
