When life has one backed into a corner, something unexpected usually happens. It could be for the good, or bad, but due to the circumstances, it certainly isn’t something one expects. Take for instance, the story of Kenneth Bannister, T.B. (Top Banana).

Mr. Bannister started the International Banana Museum in the spring of 1976 after being inundated with banana-related goods by a number of friends. His collection rose to include over 17,000 items, and to this day, there is no larger collection related to any other fruit. After opening his first museum in Altadena, he then moved to Hisperia some eighty miles away (both cities are located in California). Recently, he received a letter from the city of Hesperia asking him to vacate the premises. The city wanted to create a new museum and thought The Banana Museum had run its course. Although defeated at first, Mr. Bannister then thought it to be a good time to sell his collection and move on with his life.

The only problem? No one wanted to buy it. He kept lowering the price, finally to an unfathomably low amount, but still had no takers. And just when he thought that it was over, that he would have to move his collection into storage, Virginia and Fred Garbutt appeared out of the mist and agreed to a price. The mother and son tandem currently own a liquor store in North Shore, California and are now planning to open the newest iteration of The Banana Museum next door, so as to capitalize on curious highway traffickers.

Although I may or may not make the pilgrimage to The Banana Museum, the very fact that it continues to exist, to persist through the bleakest of moments, is a testament to the passion of Mr. Bannister. What I also find extremely inspiring is the fact that Mr. Bannister stumbled upon this love somewhat later in his life. As I covered previously, our youth-centric culture seems to be quite enamored with the story of the “child prodigy” and not the individual who, through actual life experience, finds their true calling. Needless to say, I think I have found mine, and regardless of whether or not I can make a living by solely focusing on music, I am convinced that this is not a one-third life crisis.

• BROWSE / IN TIMELINE
• « Fighting To Stay Awake
• » The Reasonings Behind the Seasonings

• BROWSE / IN Information Leaders by Example Leisure Activities Philosophy
• « Fighting To Stay Awake
• » The Reasonings Behind the Seasonings