I saw two natural miracles in the space of 24 hours yesterday. When I went to bed the night before last, I saw a mosquito giving birth on my windshield. The next morning I went for a walk on the beach and saw the sand erupting in a black fountain ahead of me.
Upon closer inspection, the mosquito was stillborn and the geyser was from a pipe at a condo construction area. Neither were really a miracle of nature. A sad metaphor for our times.
Although, does Florida really need one more bloodsucker? A condo is much more useful.
I am starting to love the little beach where I saw the wedding. Yesterday morning there were two men there, dressed in identical green longsleeved shirts and khaki cargo pants, standing with their right arms up to shield their eyes, even their stance identical. Except one was about half the size of the other. Today there were a half dozen old men with their metal detectors, capitalizing on the big weekend. I saw two of them nearly get into a turf war at one point.
Later in the morning, a middle-aged man, a thin, lou reed look-alike, stopped by in his running suit with a bag of cat food. He sauntered down to the beach, then started walking backwards, strewing the food in front of him. Very soon he had a brawling bunch of seagulls walking steadily towards him as he inched backwards. It was like a scene from the Birds, except he was asking for it.
The chef and I took out a couple scooters today and wandered the island all morning, talking up scooter rentals and passing out flyers. There is no other way to tour a sunny, laid back island. The only drawback was the 30 mph cap that put a limit on our wanderings.
Sorry mom, I am definitely getting a motorcycle when I get back home. I promise, I'll be careful; no hot dogging and wheelies.
I see a scooter strapped on Tach, in you future . . .
Posted by: Theresa | March 16, 2004 at 05:14 AM
If I'm still not riding my scoot when you get back, we can talk. It is super cute. And by the way, I hope you are wearing safety gear while scooting around. Hitting the pavement even at only 20 mph still hurts like a mutha.
oh, and I'll call soon I swear.
love you.
Posted by: rachel | March 16, 2004 at 11:09 AM
What's a motorcycle without hotdogs and wheelies? So long as you are wearing safety gear! :) Just kidding. Scooting around the island sounds like fun. And I love watching the old guys with their metal detectors. My kids ask for one every Christmas and Santa never brings it.
Posted by: Kathleen | March 16, 2004 at 01:52 PM
A mosquito giving birth? Man, you have good eyes.
Posted by: Pauly D | March 16, 2004 at 03:46 PM
Was it the cute chef you spent the day with? I think I finally traded in my copy of "American Gods" after meaning to give it to you for a year or so. Great book, although I confess that at first I thought your quotes were from Tom Robbins' "Another Roadside Attraction".
Posted by: Kira | March 17, 2004 at 06:53 AM