The weather seems to be changing to that which is more suitable for visitors to Key West.  After a morning bike ride up the more quiet street of Simonton, a street that parallels the popular Duval, a ‘skinny latte’ and a stop to read the Key West newspaper in the lobby of La Concha Hotel, we headed toward the east coast of the island.   We have become regulars to La Concha Hotel lobby, even snagging our own key to the lobby restrooms, strictly guarded by the front desk man. 

The sun was out from the clouds and it felt warmer on the deck of Louie’s Back Yard eatery.  We were delighted to have them squeeze us in at a table outside, we chose the 2 seats on the shady side of the table.  We marveled at the view, and in spite of the winds, noted how calm the water appeared when sitting on solid ground. 

Behind us a party of four sat at a shady table.  It was a 3 to 1 decision to sit out of the sun, which spawned a warm greeting to us that democracy doesn’t always work, commenting that it depends on which side you’re on.  We enjoyed light conversation about flying planes and each others’ backgrounds with our dining neighbors who turned out to be from Arlington, Virginia.  A judge with a firm handshake, his gracious wife who thanked Richard for his service in the Air Force, a lawyer with a nice sense of humor, and, as the lawyer declared her, his ‘hostile’ date.  We couldn’t help but notice the way the judge’s wife made gentle attempts to include the pretty Asian woman that sat across from her, but to no avail.  The woman text-messaged fervently on her cell phone when her lawyer-date had to take a call, while we enjoyed a friendly chatter with the judge and his wife. 

It’s so interesting how strangers can meet by chance and have common backgrounds, or come from similar locations.  It’s also fascinating how the energy from another table, could influence our own feelings.  We left feeling sorry for them all. 

We’re finding that the more relaxed we get, the more observant we become, the more we learn what grips us, and the more we learn that which should be let go.  Let me say this again if only for myself, the lighter we become, the more we see, the more we know, which allows us the freedom and the reason to release those issues that occupy the very precious space of our thoughts. 

Yesterday after a similar morning routine, and a stop at the boat store, we crossed the street to have breakfast at the oldest restaurant on the island, Pepe’s.  The ten minute wait turned into 20, with several minutes filled by a conversation with a sailor, who had come across the Gulf from Texas.  A hundred miles out of the Dry Tortugas, he lost the rudder from his sailboat.  He boasted about the experience, a 37 foot sailboat against winds gusting to 40 knots, with seas up to 19 feet. 

We imagined what his boat would look like going over the waves.  At 19 feet on the wave, his sailboat would have to tilt over the cap by an additional 9 plus feet before it traveled down the backside of the wave.  We couldn’t believe his story. 

While I sat there in awe, I noticed Richard’s reticent demeanor.  The next day as we read the local paper in the lobby of La Concha Hotel, we learned that the “Hot Ticket,” a thirty seven foot sailboat that lost it’s rudder was rescued by the Coast Guard after a Helicopter had been deployed from the mainland which resulted in a 10 hour rescue effort.  This modern day pirate, left some of the story out…

We visited Sloppy Joes Bar this afternoon, where I was able to share with Richard some of the tales I’ve been reading about in Hemingway and the Cuba Years.  Fascinating stories of large fish caught in seemingly small boats, rum running with Joe (the man behind Sloppy Joe’s), and love affairs that revealed themselves in later Hemingway novels. 

Tonight we watched the sun set from the stern of the Suki Sweet II, where Richard sipped red wine from his “Captain” tervis tumbler, and I from my “1st Mate” tumbler, perfect plastic-ware for boaters and gifts from my dad. 

Signing off, we’re either off to rest or, if we get a second wind, off to the direction of the music.

Leslie & Richard Dasch