My new reality

We are in South Beach Miami awaiting tomorrow’s departure to Lima, Peru. We are staying in one of the many, many art deco hotels along the shore. The beach is expansive with really nice sand and blue, blue water and thus is a favorite spring break destination. Yes, again, we have stumbled into the super collision of skin and sun and hormones and liquor. Spring break!!! This week’s spring breakers apparently are students of stripper college. Am I getting old and puritanical? I think I’m ‘hip’ (is that term even used anymore?) Nevertheless here I am thinking “thank goodness fanny packs are ‘in’ otherwise there’s not much else covering these girls’ nether regions”. I haven’t seen this much skin since I stumbled onto the Naked Bike Ride in San Francisco, where I was asked to photograph a pre-ride yoga session for some guys. Apparently you can get piercings anywhere. (Don’t rent bikes there). Anyway, Greg is alternately shocked and intrigued by the display as I drag him down to the early bird special.

We eat dinner at Joe’s Stone Crabs, really out of this world stone crab, sweet and tasty, and pretty good key lime pie. Afterwards, we stroll South Pointe park and pier, a beautiful, well maintained park at the end of the long, brick boardwalk that follows the beach. The weather is perfect, 75 and clear, and we are not wearing boots and parkas. There are walkers, runners, boarders, scooters, bikers, lovers, and dogs everywhere. I’ll give it to Miami Beach, the outdoor spaces are beautiful. Back at the hotel, we end the evening with drinks at the bar and enjoy the pianist and jazz singer. Tomorrow we head south!

Hi to Christina, my smart, independent, lovely, fun, favorite daughter.

Just FYI, I’ve read some good books lately and will pass them on to you:

Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver. I’m becoming a big fan of hers. A woman rediscovers herself while returning home to care for her elderly father in the American South West. The author advocates for environmental and political issues in her novels, so some guilty feelings should be expected.

The River of Doubt, by C. Millard. Ms. Millard describes Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing journey down what is now called the Rio Roosevelt, a tributary of the amazon. He co-led the ill prepared expedition with Captain Rondon, the gentleman that built the first telegraph system along the Amazon. Actually Captain Rondon was more the hero and Teddy was along for the ride. This book got me in the mood for our trip and not just a little worried although I’m sure our tour guides will handle portaging any dugouts we may need to build.

A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman. You must read this book. I cried and laughed all day as I read this book start to finish. Ove reminds me of my husband.

Beartown and Us Against You by Frederik Backman. Hockey fanatics in a small town and the effects a crime has on the residents.

That’s about it for now. I apologize for my writing in various tenses. I’m working on it.