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| "Arabesque" oil on canvas |
Sometimes we don’t realize the
traps we set for ourselves on a daily basis. We get caught up in minutiae, and
use every excuse in the book to stay put; feet firmly planted in the ruts we’ve
dug. Let’s face it; the chores at home never end. Soon they begin to grind and
irritate us. Not a good prescription for progress or creativity!
Thanksgiving Day I left the
confines of home with my husband heading north toward other family members in
the area. As was our tradition, we made Thanksgiving reservations at a
restaurant located mid-point between our two separate locations.
A morning chill turned
temperate, and the warmth of the sun made our road trip bright and pleasant.
Our once Northern blood has thinned from years of living in Southern climes,
and we were wrapped in sweaters dressed for any outcome unable to tolerate even
the slightest drop in temperature.
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| "Pelican at Rest" oil on canvas |
I realized too late that I’d
forgotten the camera. When we drove over our first bridge across the inland
portion of the Caloosahatchee River I remembered. There’s nothing like an
expanse of tropical blue water against brilliant green trees and variegated
grasses to make you regret being unable to capture a photo memory.
When we got closer to our
destination, I was even more dismayed. The Gulf waters were blue-green and
crystal clear near the shoreline. We crossed two bridges to reach our
destination of St. Armand’s Circle on the ocean side of Sarasota. Seagulls fluttered
overhead and pelicans dive-bombed for fish. On the underside of the bridges
where palm trees, sandy beaches and lounge chairs beckoned, fishermen cast
their baited lines into the water.
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| "Seashells by the Seashore" acrylic on canvas |
Our reservation was at the
Columbia Restaurant, a famous old chain popular for Cuban food. Our traditional
dinner had a distinctive Cuban flair, it was both exotic and delicious. The
stuffing was the best I have ever eaten and the gravy was exceptional! Not only
were the mashed potatoes fluffy and white, they were tasty. A sweet potato dish
was topped with sugary, buttered pecans. I longed for more, but my aching stomach
kept me from asking for seconds.
When dinner was over, I had a
pumpkin flan instead of the traditional pumpkin pie. The rest of my family had a
generous wedge of scrumptious key lime. Unlike its cousins, this key lime was
made from scratch using fresh limes. It was heavy, tart, and succulent. “So
this is how a key lime pie is supposed to taste?” I thought to myself.
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| "St. Armand's Beach" taken two years ago |
As we moaned and groaned and
loosened our belts, I couldn’t help but miss the faces that weren’t there; the
ones of my own family members, especially my children who reside in the distant
corners of the United States. I hoped they’d had a lovely time with their
families. Time and distance has taken a toll on our closeness as has the
divorce that first tore us apart.
I know many of you are in the
same boat. We can only make the best of what happens to us and move on. If
nothing else, my excursion on the road with its breathtaking views, and
photo-ready snapshots gave me a much needed journey out of myself and into this
wondrous world we live in!
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| "Canals at St. Armand's" taken two years ago |
