Serenity Now

The water she calls to me - pulling ever closer - surrounding me with contentment and feelings of happiness. There is something about the water that is so soothing and relaxing that it is almost indescribable. It's like elixir in a bottle. I love the water.

Yesterday we took the visiting family to Tarpon Springs and sailed out to Anclote Key. One of my favorite places but then again I have so many. Peace, beauty and solitude awaited us and we enjoyed every minute of it.

On our wonderful and exciting travels yesterday we hit the tourist gift shops. One of my favorite pastimes even though I am not a tourist in Florida but we had tourist relatives with us. We stopped in this one (mostest tackiest) and I spotted magnetic jewelry. I have heard about the healing properties of magnetic jewelry. It heals, it balances - basically it cures all evils and ills. My sister-in-law and I bought it - hook - line and sinker, a big heavy sinker. What the hey we were on a mission.

I chose the ankle bracelet. It was light weight, magnetic and it only cost $5.99. My sister-in-law went for the smartly colored bracelet. Then, we pondered getting one for each limb but thought we would wait and see if the gems really worked.

Through our discussion right in front of the cashier he snickered. Probably not a good sign - then again he most likely thought we were just tourists.

This morning after I awoke bright and early from the sofa sleeper my foot hurt a bit. The foot that now housed the magnetic anklet. As I'm sitting in the tub trying to alleviate the pains of sofa bed sleeping I looked down at my foot. OMG!!!! A bruise the size of the state of Florida was pulsing from my right ankle. The ankle that was proudly displaying the new magnetic cure all jewelry. I think my sister-in-law and I were taken.

The Oil Spill

If I were the sailboat and you were the wind – oh, the trouble we’d be in.

If I were the lock and you were the key,

If I were the coffee and you were the cream,

If I were the salt and you were the pepper,

If I were the grass and you were the mower,

If I were the wallet and you were the money,

If I were the pen and you were the ink,

If I am the fish that swims in the sea and you are the oil – oh, the trouble we are in.

Anclote Key

Take me away, to a better place, a secret place, a hiding place. Anclote Key perched in the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by blue water and a sense of serenity unplugged. A place for balance, quiet and a taste of the real Florida. Anclote Key is one of my favorite Florida hangouts.

Second Hand Lions

One of my favorite movies is The Second Hand Lion with Michael Caine and Robert Duval. A couple of cranky old brothers saddled with a great nephew. I love their wit and look on life. Their facial expressions also make me laugh. So I was very surprised when I found myself hiking though the underbrush on Anclote Key with two similar characters.

The boat dropped us off on the beach and I (always prepared for adventure) took with me my faithful Crocs. You can walk in water with them - they dry in seconds and keep the feet off the hot sand and boardwalk. The brothers left their sneakers on the boat. LOL. I giggled to myself. The fools I thought.

We hike up the beach to the boardwalk (about a half mile in length) and start our trek to the lighthouse. The sun beat down on our bodies and also the wooden boardwalk. Did I care? No. But the brothers were barefoot and not fancy free. Apparently they have never walked on hot burning coals. They complained the entire length of the journey. I giggled.

They did they two hop-step down the wooden (HOT) walkway. I offered them a plastic bag but they snarled. I took my time and enjoyed the scenery. More loud complaining. I giggled.

At last we made it to the lighthouse and I began snapping pictures. I caught the boys at their finest.