Yes please...

Carla and I drove South down the coast yesterday, A1A blacktop stretching out to the horizon, a thin black line sandwiched between breaking waves to the East and beach houses, huddled close, silhouetted by the sun to the West. An exceptionally clear, perfect day with sunshine so bright it stabbed my eyes with each explosion through an oak canopy. A thousand flashbulbs, paparazzi shooting down from overhead, their red carpet a mottled stretch of blacktop tunneled through massive oaks, arms intertwined, a roadbed slashed cleanly through dense Florida hammock. 

Our destination was the Flagler Fish Company, a laid back seafood joint, one block West of the beach. 

Lounging on the outside patio, a cold Anchor Steam Beer dripped sweat rings onto my napkin as it flapped white edges, and the hair tumbling down Carla's back, in unison with each hurried gust. Salty winds dancing excitedly, circling and chasing, spawned by the back and forth battle line where surf meets sand, just a block away. Hot seafood chowder, chunky with bites of shrimp and clam, lightly browned crab cakes, fat with fresh-picked lumps of savory white flesh, crisp fried spinach leaves freckled with toasted garlic, warm Asiago potatoes, melty with cheese...all trumped by Lobster rolls, heavy with pink meat that had been chilling in the cold algae coated tank only moments before, pressed up against large swordfish and tuna, frozen forever in a blue mural that covered the wall, floor to ceiling. A side of real butter, humble and perfect, sat quietly at the ready.

We talked excitedly, as we often do, 38 years and still learning who we are with each other. She looked much younger than her chronological age, natural, oblivious to her own beauty, long hair streaked with sunlight, waving in the wind. Growing quiet as she continued with great detail about an observation her friend had made, my gratitude for all of it was every bit as palatable as the dinner itself, now a scattered scrum of food and drink paused at halftime on the chaotic field of the paper covered table. That moment spoke to the essence of our years together, side by side, itself, an amazing meal of shared celebrations. And I knew that I was still hungry... for dessert, yes, but mainly for an ever evolving “more of the same”, for us, and this, together...yes please!