Change of Scene

This seems to be the perfect morning (snowy and cold April 18) to enter a new blog about Mary and my recent trip to the Florida Keys. Many of you on Facebook saw some of the photos but I will fill in here with some verbiage.

Left Kalamazoo in wet, sleety conditions with our trusty driver PW getting us to the "old" Kzoo airport in time. We arrived in West Palm on Direct Air, got our KIA rental and were off the to the Keys for a week in Plantation Key with initial sharing long time friends S n M. They shared with us their sweet part of the world down in a new destination for Mary and I, FLAKEYS. This on return has become my moniker for us, The FLAKEYS, and my photo folder.

From here it was a relaxing, trying to keep in the NOW, don't rush anything change of scene from the Michigan winter that was just that.

Warm breezes throughout, I tried to greet every soft pink sunrise, seen from our bedroom with a "good morning". Leisurely breakfasts, poolside for a bit where the bronzed regulars smiled politely to my "another day in paradise" greeting, some kayaking out to the nearby island, M showing me the hermit crabs everywhere around the the isle, walking among the ebb and flow of the tide, meditations, thrift shop walking for the women at the nearby store, my only job-take the recycling down to the bins. (The R in SRS standing for Recycling of course).

After lunch, a beverage, a trip out for some local points of interest, happy hours, a seafood munch.

Speaking of seafood, my only down time, literally, was my fishing expedition that M worked out with a local fisherman and friend, a Michigander Bobert. Let's just say I was down and out for several hours that morning, as even the regulars called it "rough seas". I survived and a decent catch of mostly yellow tail was achieved and we all came away with some for a meal and the Capt. got enough to make it worthwhile for him.

The next night old chums (interesting choice of words) Bobert and S made a wonderful meal with the Yellowtail and an abundance of culinary brilliance and We got to meet the "other" Saint Mary, Bobert's better half.

A trip to Key West was to be part of the week and we celebrated the sunset at Mallory Square with many others. We had numerous cocktails checking out the sights and sounds, we danced, dined and rendezvoused with Mary's cuz, Helen who recently moved to this southern most part of the US where pirates, artists and writers have hung out for centuries. The only down side the long drive home over numerous bridges on US1. M did a fine job of getting us home as his built in GPS had the drive down.

The many islands and narrow strip of land that are the Keys make for a true fishing paradise and a geographical wonder of seaside beauty. The writer Carl Hiassen lives here in Islemorada and has written often of the struggles between developers and those who want to keep the "old Florida" alive. S took us to the giant crustacean where Carl took Warren Zevon's photo sometime during a trip to this area during his last year before he passed.

Our last day and a half here was spent poolside, cleaning up the abode, and a fantastic sunset dinner at Morada Bay, dining in the white sand with a band, tiki torches. lanterns and a moonrise with dessert.

Many times I wondered if I could reside down here, taking into consideration hurricanes and humidity in the hot season. Would it all get taken for granted after a while? I would hope not, live in the now.

Our truly last night was kind of a bonus as we needed a place to stay nearer West Palm as our flight took off at 7:00AM. Luckily, a longtime High School friend Joanne lives in Delray Beach only 20 minutes from the Airport, she, her husband Frank and son Micheal were lifesavers for putting us up, feeding us and giving us a quick tour of downtown Delray, a booming, hip, artistic community just off the ocean. Frank is a world class sculptor from Detroit whose studio was an event itself. One of his sculptures was in a park fountain in Delray. He had great stories of art, fishing, Detroit and the West Palm area. With the reminiscing Joanne and I were doing it made for a perfect last night. Joanne and Frank were up with us at 4:00AM with coffee and rolls to see us off with directions for the ride to the Airport in the dark.

A big thanks to S n M for being terrific hosts along with the others who made the trip special. (Did I mention they even took us to see the African Queen, moored in Key Largo)? The change of scene to a place we had never been was a great tonic for the everyday life of a Michigan winter, much gratitude for the change in latitude;). On arrival back home it was a balmy 85 degrees just like what we had left behind, it lasted all of one day.

I end with a meditation from Mediation Point, one morning by the sea, looking out taking it in.

sitting ocean side pondering tidal movements

trying to focus on the now

when a pelican on a nearby marker, squawks

as if to mock me saying,

" welcome to my state of mind-good luck staying there"