Seaside at Sunset

Every observation starts with seeing something... but this blog will start with words. I know, I know that all blogs are composed of words and accented with pictures.

But anyway here are the words... conversations, seaside, cool breezes, wine, vacationers, flashes, sunburns, sandy toes, hot pink sunset, blues, beers, what's that thing for?, more conversation, people, relationships, total strangers, personal stuff, music, day dreaming, and Nicki...

I had decided to spend some time on/with someone who I don't usually spend it with. You may not know this person as well as I do but soon you may get to know them for better or worse.

It was a cool summer night in northwest Florida with lots of visitors dipping their toes in the Gulf. Others were taking pictures of themselves at sunset in order to have memories to revisit when they get home. Children squealing while running away from their parents who were ready to leave for dinner. I took a few photos of the remains of a beach wedding and posted them on facebook. Almost as soon as they were there I had comments added to them from friends wishing they were here too most likely. After dipping my sandy toes into the Gulf I decided to walk upstairs to Bud & Alley's for a glass of wine and good conversation. Seaside is a curious place full of sunburnt visitors wanting to escape from their everyday lives.

While standing there people watching I noticed that everyone was enjoying the company of others or anticipating meeting someone new. At this point an attractive young lady walked towards me at the top of the stairs... I smiled and said hi. She politely said hi back and went down the stairs a couple of steps to take a picture on her phone. She took her picture and I asked if she wanted me to take her picture with the sunset in the background. She first gave me a look like this guys hitting on me followed by okay. I took the picture for her and she said her friends would be jealous when she emailed it to them since they were overseas. I told her to have fun and to take care. She stood next to me enjoying the last moments of the setting sun and talked to a girl who walked up. She told the girl that she called here home but traveled for work... Vegas, LA, and other places. The other girl opened up about her personal relationship and how men are difficult to understand. I think everyone of us are difficult to understand. She stated that she would never get married again. So when a glass of wine or bottle of beer is added to the mix conversations become easy to total strangers. The first girl decided to share her current story too. She was/is in love... with a man she sees every two weeks through a long distance relationship. They talked for a few minutes and then returned to the bar for a refill on their beverages. Nicki (the first girl) whose named I overheard talked to three more people on her way back to the bar before leaving for the evening. She had a confidence about her which was projected in her walk and how she carried herself in conversations. But I still think she was searching for something... a friend, a buddy or someone so she wouldn't be alone. Maybe we all get that way from time to time... I know I have been there quite a bit lately.

I stayed there for a little while longer before walking around the circle looking at art in shops and some nice pearl jewelry. Thinking that it would be nice to buy pearls for that special someone (another story). And that I should be working on art again. Ice cream on a summer night is always fun. Families waiting in lines for double scoops in a waffle cone - chocolate chip mint is still my favorite. I walked for a bit longer and decided it was time to head to the house. The drive was relaxing with my windows down feeling the wind in between my fingers. I finished the evening with my new room mate watching a movie with ice cream.

On a final note I did do a lot of texting throughout the evening to friends wanting to go out but decided to spend time with "that guy"... me.