By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger Video by Eileen Goldfinger. Please click on music and then video for the ultimate multi-media experience.
I am reluctant to post Florida photos in the winter because it feels cruel to those of you, including our two Grover sons, who are freezing their buttocks off in Jersey.
But, on the other hand, some readers have told me that they enjoy the Fla Fla Land images.
So here is a video that Eileen shot a few days ago. We were sitting on a narrow beach off the Sanibel Island Causeway, looking out at San Carlos Bay, a route to the Gulf. Hardly anyone actually goes into the water there. But some enjoy the water sports like kite surfing or fishing. Regular surfing is out of the question, because there only tiny waves. Mostly people just open up a folding chair and enjoy the gentle lapping of the water. The visitors seem to vary between those who seek shade under the trees and those who sunbathe.
The fisherman in the picture seemed happy just to cast, reel, cast, reel , cast reel—non-stop and monotonous, but very relaxing. It was soothing even just watching him. He was using a small hunk of bait, and he caught nothing while we were there.
He seemed perfectly content. He said that his wife was walking along the edge of the water looking for shells. These people sure know how to waste time—a marvelous talent in our high energy culture.
Eileen and her sister Hope join in the festivities by chatting–endlessly, a preoccupation sort of like cast, reel, cast…etc. Or else they crochet —-twirling their little stick hooks over and over and…..
I like to walk around and people-watch. Sometimes the action is on the water–such as watching pelicans diving. Or else families set up barbecues, playing bossa nova music, while the kids chase each other, round and round and ……
Sometimes I come across strange sights such as when a group of chairs were set up in rows, on the beach, facing the water, with white covers, waiting for a wedding to start. Just one person had arrived so far. That fellow was standing in front of the chairs, back to the water, practicing a speech to his imaginary audience.
After a day of relaxing, I find that activity to be quite exhausting.