Keith Morrison will tell you that danger can lurk in the most unsuspecting places, and as a Dateline fan, I get what he means, but as a midwestern transplant, I was shocked when falling coconuts made that list.
As I pulled into my neighborhood Publix parking lot one morning, I had to stop for the nice lady leaving the building crossing in front of my car. Just as I took my foot off the brakes and before I pressed on the gas, out of nowhere this huge coconut dropped from the palm tree above me and crashed onto the parking lot pavement. I couldn’t believe it. That could have injured the nice lady or cracked my windshield, I was shocked! So when I got back home, I looked into it.
“According to a study published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, there were 24 documented cases of coconut-related injuries in Florida between 1990 and 2006. While this may not seem like a large number, it’s important to remember that these injuries can have serious consequences, including traumatic brain injuries.” You can read the whole article here.
I’ve also seen coconuts washed up on the beach shore multiple times, with the local birds getting after them. I had to chuckle as I quickly realized that coconuts in SW Florida are much like the great Roy Kent: “He’s here, he’s there, he’s every f’ing where, Roy Keeeeent! Roy Keeeeeent!” If you don’t get that reference, please finish this post and then go watch Ted Lasso, all 3 seasons. You’re welcome.
Interestingly, “Out of thousands of palm species worldwide, only 11 or 12 are native to Florida. Most iconic palms in Florida landscapes (like the Coconut or Queen palm) were introduced from other regions.” You can read more about that here.
So while Harry Nielsson sang “Doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take, I say, doctor, to relieve this bellyache?” Maybe he should have asked the doctor about what he could take to relieve the headache, from the falling coconut.
