I sat on the balcony of her condo sipping my tea and watching the life of South Floridians whiz by 12 stories below. I was amazed at how many people were out for their morning walk or run, all ages, men and women alike. I watched the cars go by on Ocean Drive below, and watched boats float by just beyond the road on the ICW. I could see a group of people in the swimming pool across the street doing water aerobics, and thought how nice it would be to go for a swim.
It made me think about something I read recently - about how so many people live their lives behind a pane of glass, looking out at the world but not participating in it. As I sat there on the balcony, I realized that was exactly what I was doing. Here I was in beautiful Hollywood Beach on this supremely gorgeous day, and I was literally watching it through the pane of glass surrounding Nancy's balcony. I don't want to be one of those people, but I'm afraid it is a natural tendency. I have to force myself to get out and DO stuff, and Monday morning was no exception.
I do know this - that once I'm out and about, I enjoy it fully! It's just the initial step that's the hardest. I've been like this forever, but it's REALLY become apparent in these past 7 months of not having to go to work every day that I've struggled with wanting to stay home (wherever that may be) in my bathrobe and sip tea, or get out and DO SOMETHING that I know I'd like. Especially if it includes communing with nature.
Although I had a bathing suit on the boat, in the flurry of packing I forgot to put it in my bag. So I put on the next closest thing I had - a running bra/tank top, and some capri-length exercise pants, and I set off for a walk on the beach.
I walked down to Nancy's Hotel via the beach and marveled at how many people were out and about. Virginia Tech is playing in the Orange Bowl and seems the hotel was their headquarters. I felt very comfortable in my somewhat frumpy beach attire because I figured most of the folks on the beach were genteel Virginians and not the ultra-flamboyant South Floridians.
This hotel ROCKS. It is GORGEOUS, and quite a feat of modern engineering to build the hotel with a giant cube cut out of the center! The sky was so blue, and the water an inviting turquoise. The water was a little cooler than I had expected. I was tempted nonetheless to rent a jet ski and take it out for a spin, but in the end didn't bring my wallet, plus, that's much more fun when you have someone to play with.
I sat in the sand for about an hour, watching the waves and seagulls and people walking by. An hour was all I could take really, the sun was very intense and I could tell I was getting burned that quickly.
I returned to the condo and decided to go looking for a Cuban restaurant I'd seen the night before. I was jonesing for a Cuban Sandwich, and where else besides Havana would I find an authetic Cuban than in this place - the Cuban's home away from home? Sadly, I didn't find the place I thought I had seen, so I settled for a ham and swiss sub from Quizno's, asking for extra pickles to attempt some sad version of the classic delicioso sandwich. Unfortunately, Q's didn't hold a candle to an authentic one, but I enjoyed it none the less at a roadside park sitting at a concrete picnic table under whispy palm trees, again, next to the ICW. Just me and Barbie!
I was lucky enough to see this beauty glide by while enjoying my lunch - a 62ft Azimut. I've only seen these in magazines. A true stunner!
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