The Gulf of America
We were in Florida a few days ago. Panama City Beach to be exact. Visiting Steve’s cousins! Our intention was to escape the cold and snow of West Virginia for a few days. Actually we had to delay our departure a couple days due to flooding, cold and snow in southern West Virginia, as well as Virginia and Tennessee, since not knowing possible problems that we might encounter had caused a tiny bit of concern. Having reached an age of avoiding traveling problems if possible, we often think being proactive is better. This delay left us with only three full days to enjoy Florida. We agreed that visiting with family was most important, the weather not being as warm as we were hoping for. “I definitely want to dip my toes in the Gulf of America” Steve mused, adding that he also “wanted to eat as much sea food as possible while he was there”….. Being a Maine boy, he often judges the quality of restaurants in all of the coastal communities that we visit, by how good their sea food is…. Especially scallops! Since we married in 2019, Steve has been looking for scallops as good as the ones he remembers from Maine in his earlier years. This was the first time "that" search became successful… but it didn’t happen until the last evening there. But I’ve digressed.
Early in our visit this year, the men discussed the most proper way to plan for a “Toe Dipping.” It was finally decided that it should be done in a patriotic manner which required purchasing American flags, of course. Four to be exact… with a discussion of holding them between our toes. Or not! Steve and I are often a tad quirky in our mannerisms. We’re now of the age that it is allowed… Or so we think!
Our next evening out to dinner with family was at The Grand Marlin Restaurant, which was a favorite eatery place that we loved last year. We had a delicious meal, but again NO scallops on the menu.
After dinner, the men decided to make a stop for the flag purchase on our way home. Steve usually pays with apple on his phone app, but that didn’t work at this particular store. So Gil had to pull out cash since Steve had left his wallet in the car… $6 plus tax. (Steve and Gil usually have a cash debate when we visit. Steve leaves money when we depart… but as usual in the snack bag that Gil fixed us for the road, apples and other goodies, hidden inside was the six bucks… ‘smile’)
We waited until around noon on Saturday, the warmest day that we would have to dip our toes in the cold ocean water. We made our way down to the ground level and toward the beach carrying our flags as if we owned the world. As we left the elevator and started walking, a voice from behind says “You're my kind of people with those flags”…. and we slowed up for a middle aged man to catch up with us. Explaining that on our last day before we left for home, we wanted to dip our toes in the Gulf of America and must have some props to make it picture worthy. The man excitedly asked if he and his family could include themselves for some pictures. He and his wife (who were from Kansas) had been joined that week by their son, daughter-in-law and grand-baby. So our party of two quickly grew to a party of seven. Our cousins watching from the fifth floor balcony, along with other beach walkers found the flag people to be quite entertaining, we were later told. The Kansas grandfather excitingly took pictures of Steve and me, but then the daughter-in-law says “I take better pictures than him” snatching our phone from grandpa and snapped a few more.
We all celebrated the “Gulf of America” with a lot of crazy and quirky dancing. At least Steve and I did…. (Or maybe it was only me) and a lot of flag waving with circle eights (OH… that may have been only me as well). We threw out some shouts of “Hoorays” and other similar expressions! Even though the water was cold, the excitement of the moment made it quite bearable. The waves came up around our feet and the washing sand threatened to topple us on our backsides, but the precarious moment soon passed and our party started breaking up with thank you and goodbyes and wishes for safe travels were exchanged.
Steve and I returned to the apartment and began packing for a morning departure while preparing to join the cousins for a last dinner together. And what a meal we had! Steve finally got his ‘scallops’… nice big ones! Maine size!!! And I had the salmon… which was the best I’ve ever ate. And I’ve had some pretty ‘dog-gone good’ salmon dinners, but this one surpassed them all. "Firefly" restaurant proved to be above and beyond our expectation! Excellent food and the service was intriguing!
Hugs were exchanged! “We will see you here, there or in the air”… and we left the cousins behind as we headed north early Sunday morning with a destination of “Neels Gap”, a restock store for Appalachian Trail through-hikers and souvenir shop in upper Georgia. We bought two super nice AT coffee mugs and a couple teeshirts. But that is another story!
May God bless the United States of America… the prayer I said as I waved my flag with my toes in the Gulf of America one fine day in February of 2025.
ajs