Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Half way

“That’s the way it used to be, motels on the beach. Now, It’s high-rises, parking garages, shadows” “Florida, the way it used to be, is gone”

Silly tourist….

“Take my hand and come with me…..”

I’m off on a road trip. Around the corner. To a fairytale. To layers of peeling aqua and pink paint. To a cement pool with dolphins furiously painted on her bumpity finish. To a Tiki-Bar with a one -armed, one- man band. To the smell of rotting oyster shells and French fry oil. To Michelob’s and Bud Lights on Ice. To stray cats feeding on the left-overs, never tame, but always game. To a window unit blowing icy air on my face, dripping on my feet. To a midnight moon smiling, winking, as we wade past, ankle deep in the salt water, skipping over jelly fish glowing in the dark. To the broken shells, forgotten by the tide. To salty towels draped over rusty lawn chairs. To McDonalds in the morning, “a large coffee with cream and sugar, please…”. To late check-outs….

I’m off on a road trip…..

Peace, love, and everything in-between……
is just a fairytale…..

Welcome to my world…….

23 comments:

Gill said...

Wow, I'll go on that trip. Very Floridian! I think some of us have already been there.
Great writing again, as per usual.

Scott from Oregon said...

Can I go? I can even dig the Micky Dee coffee...

And I swear I won't put on a pair of Speedos...

Anonymous said...

Awww...beautiful post & good times ahead. Although I don't consider myself a tourist, I do find a lot of the newly constructed shadow makers sad :(
Some places luckily just keep holding on & I can't wait to meet you guys there
SLB

singleton said...

blue...Yep, very Floridian. Like little pink houses, some places just get better!

scott...LOL! Speedos! Oh, you must! .....You'd be dressed for the part!

SLB...."holding on"......can't wait....Silly little shadow-makers, they can't stop our spirits!plfyslb

Anonymous said...

Glowing jellyfish-I realy want to see this.
I found some bioilluminescent mushrooms a year or so ago on a nighttime hike. I never knew such stuff existed. I was blown away.
If you know anymore about these creatures-please do tell!!!!!! Anxiously awaiting in Michigan.
I loved your post by the way. You are tempting and inspiring me to write some different style posts. I haven't gotten the courage yet, but I will. Time is more of a factor than fear.

SHE said...

i love every silly, bumpity, one-armed, icy, dripping detail in your stories...

enjoy the tourist's ")

Scott from Oregon said...

Hey, I wanted you to read this.

http://aeleope.blogspot.com/2006/09/taking-hippy-dip-like-man.html

And then I had an idea. What did you want ME to read?

I'll do a story swap with you. I'll post your story on AELEOPE and you post this here. Save it for a time when you are too lazy to write...

Sort of a cross-blog-pollination...

Also, how come you don't have a banner? Everybody needs a banner...

If you want help with one, just ask. I think I can do the blacklight and black velvet poster look...

Anne said...

*sigh* ... Your posts always make me smiley. :)

Anne said...

...um... except for the serious and scary posts like the one below this...

singleton said...

wreckless....Time always gobbles up more good stuff than fear alone! I wonder if we both see with psychedlic eyes or that stuff really does glow in the dark?

she...well you summed it all up perfectly! I'm gonna go scribble your sentence in the scrapbook now!

scott... I LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! You only left out three little words.... "To be continued"....Yup, we gotta do that!

Anne...:) :(
Sorry about that one, but a memory was stirred up in those ole blogworld and I just had to spit it out! Love ya!

singleton said...

ps...scott....i love the banner thing too....and yeah blacklights and strobe lights and discolights....

Angela Marie said...

Sounds real nice! Real Nice!! ;)

Scott from Oregon said...

I did a quickie (Iknow, I know...) here- http://blogroulette.blogspot.com/

just to get you thinking...

I noticed all the nice artwork and wonder why you don't use some of it in a banner...

singleton said...

angela marie....
packing now! off to the dunes!

scott....you're the bomb! That would be so cool!

vicci said...

I bet you miss the old Florida...it's kinda sad huh? Andy and I went on vacation years ago to Tampa Bay Florida...we had a great time..ate the best catfish I ever had in some funky little grass shack with tiki Gods and all down by the beach...reggae music happening...what a great time! Thanks for the memory Sweetie! :-)

Anne said...

Oh, don't apologize for the fire post. It's an amazing story, and an example of your determination and beautiful spirit.
I just said that because I didn't want it to sound like ALL your posts (even that one) make me smile. It didn't make me smile because it's sad, but it did help me learn something about you and admire your spirit even more.

Rachelle said...

--sigh--
I remember seashells! They used to be everywhere, now they are never found.
Thanks for the mini vaca- I needed it.
See you soon!
Rachelle

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

Ah, thank you for the warm scents and honeyed embrace from your endlessly vivid pen.. each swim in this blog of yours renews my sense of wonder.

(In plainspeak - you ROCK, girl!!)

Jay said...

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.

kj said...

you've nailed this. you've transported me to florida and i haven't been back from south carolina for more than a few hours!

i'll be catching up with your posts here and there. god, i hope i write even half as well as you and skinny. (well, maybe 3/4)

:)

singleton said...

vicci....Boy, do I miss those Tiki Gods! Love!

Anne...bless you girl

Rachelle....they are only found, when meant to be! Trust me on this one!

Shrinkwrapped....And you roll, girl!

Jay....And we did!

KJ...you shoulda just turned right around and joined us!

Enemy of the Republic said...

I like your world more and more.

singleton said...

enemy...it's a good world!