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FORT MYERS BEACH, Florida (WBBH) — Along Shrimp Boat Lane… across from Fort Myers Beach, fleets sit at the docks today, in peace. But years ago, these docks weathered nothing short of a battle.
“Everybody talks about Ian, but we’ve had hurricanes before Ian, and we’ll have hurricanes after. We’ve just got to get through it, said Jesse Clapham, a fleet manager at Erickson & Jensen’s Seafood Market.
Clapham’s seen his share of hurricanes wreak havoc in his four decades here.
“We’re trying to bounce back,” said Clapham.
While devastation has painted a picture most would call bleak, a new player sets food, and undoubtedly brings joy.
“She’s been on the front page more than most people have,” said Clapham.
Meet Cupcake, the potbellied pig. At just six months old, Cupcake weighs in at 200 pounds.
“If I take a bite of ice cream, the pigs get a bite of ice cream; if I eat a pretzel, the pigs get a pretzel. That’s how they are,” said Clapham.
Clapham found Cupcake walking around a reserve in LaBelle. He says it was fate, considering his wife, Holly, was fixing for a pet pig.
“She said, ‘get that one,’ and I had to jump out and chase it around until I caught it,” said Clapham. “Then, we put it in the truck and brought it home.”
While Cupcake is now a part of the family, she’s also family to the shrimpers nearby.
“We come down here, and we’ll see him talking to her, sitting with her,” said Holly.
So while Fort Myers Beach has endured more than enough pain, new memories are being made off Shrimp Boat Lane.
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