What do you know; there is a second part. Wonder if there will be a third. Who knows?
I'm not wearing my ponytail much here on the beach. I am on vacation and, in the immortal words of David Crosby, I choose to "let my freak-flag fly." I am usually also wearing my beat-up floppy hat as well so I imagine I must be a slightly unusual sight; HIPPIE ALEART! Today I added a tye-dyed Greatful Dead "Muppets" themed shirt and baggy cargo shorts to the mix as I walked to the Otter for lunch.
I tend to miss "morning activities" while on vacation with the family, and today was no exception. The rent-a-house on the beach was empty when I met the day, so I went to the Otter for lunch; a nice fun cheap place in a very expensive tourist trap. I put on said GD shirt, floppy hat, cargo short, mirrored aviators, and left sans ponytail to grab me some morning fuel.
On my walk to the Otter, a black car rode up along side me as I walked away from the beach. Inside I could not see much detail, but what I did told me a story. I saw a thick tanned muscular arm with a massive tattooo leading up to a spaghetti string shoulded muscle shirt, black of course, and dark shades under a black baseball cap...brim backwards. I quickly looked about for hidden cameras wondering if Jersey Shore was doing a Florida special. He was nice enough to turn down the music before he slowed down to a crawl to match my speed.
"Hey!" He said.
"Yes?" I was confused. Nobody knows me here.
"Do you um...."
There was a long pause. A very long pause. I think I walked past two houses before the next syllybal came out.
"Do you know where to um..."
I knew where this was going. Happened last year too. The year before that, I was on the opposite end doing it to someone else. Last year I was sitting on the beach at night, enjoying a cheap over the counter cigar, when a kid (I say "kid" because I am old and anyone under 25 is a kid) sat next to me and attempted some random meaningless small talk before asking me if I had any "weed." I hate when people call it "weed" as "weed" has such a negative connotation. I told him I didn't, finished my cigar, went home and smoked a bowl. You can say "asshole" anytime now.
"Do you know where to um....get a bathing suit?"
He chickened out! I know what I looked like to most people and know what he was looking for. Lucky for him, he asked a question I could say "yes" to instead of my usual "I wish" answer as it happens a bathing suit store is located next to my favorite Mexican restaurant ever right here in Captiva. I could give him detailed directions on where to get a bathing suit.
He drove off and I was happy I could have helped someone here for once get what they were looking for.
2 comments:
Captiva, a great place to raise your "freak-flag". One of the most Inspirational places on earth. Took some great photographs there; capturing a moment in time that lives forever. I can just close my eyes and see the images before me . . . . expansive open spaces, beautiful sunsets, beaches that never seem to end, the quiet sounds of nature unfolding, and the fight of birds. Enjoy!
Footnote: This tiny little island gave birth to a beautiful little book called "Gift of the Sea" by Ann Morrow Lindbergh. A classic; I think it's time for me to read it once more. Thanks for sharing.
Feel bad for the dude . . . Wish it was free for everybody.
Lol . . . The flight of birds
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