Drifting Through Paradise

I walked into the coffee shop Friday like I normally do. Sat my stuff on the chair next to the table, opened my bag, took out the laptop. Turned it on and plugged it in, waited for the screen for me to enter my password, then walked to the counter, just like everyday. Sitting at the table where the Red Ukrainian usually sits, was a lady engrossed in a book. She had long, grayish blond, pretty hair covering her face and hanging down to her shoulders, long slender fingers with manicured nails and toes to match, wearing a nice flower print sun dress. As usual for me for the last few months, I didn’t try to flirt or speak to her, I went to the counter paid for  my coffee and sandwich. When she heard me speak she turned head towards the counter and she caught my eye again. When she did, I realized I knew her. It the Real estate agent  from up the street.

I said hello and told her I didn’t recognize her in a dress. Normally when I see her, see is sitting on the deck of the marina wearing shorts, normally camo, and a tank top with her hair up. She laughed and said this was how she dressed for work, we talked for a few minutes before she had to leave. I told her about the excitement at the marina the night before. While she was there with her friend watching S/V Serenity come in there was a man from one of the boats worried about his lady friend. She had left the boat after drinking almost a twelve pack three hours earlier and still hadn’t returned. Her friend assured him that if they saw her, he would let her know he was worried. The Realtor and her friend left, and an hour later the other boaters lady friend returned. With another man. Both toasted. The fight was so loud someone ended up calling the law. The Sherriff left after everyone calmed down, and peace was restored. Temporarily. The fighting resumed and continued until after midnight. He was just a friend she said, what was wrong with bringing a friend to their boat, she asked. I heard all this from a hundred yards away, so  you can image how loud it was for the boat in the slip next to them.

The Realtor laughed and said it was to bad she missed that, most excitement in town since the oyster fest. It was quite a show. She left the coffee shop and went to work, I sat on the laptop and went to work. Looking at Google earth which has a new feature allowing you to see the water ways like a 3-D Nautical chart. Its f’n cool. Trying to figure where I will go when I leave here. It really is pointless to look at the chart and decide since it just matters on which way the wind is blowing when I leave here. After a few hours of sitting there writing, I was talking with the Red Ukrainian and was getting ready to go outside and smoke, when she said, “I have a customer getting ready to come in”. I looked up to see the Realtor standing in front of me “Hey, I stopped at the marina and they said you might still be here, I’m going across the river to see a friend’s band play tonight and thought you might want to go with.” I thanked her, but said no. telling her I needed to get my laundry done, pick up some fuel and get ready to head out in the morning, but I appreciated the offer. We walked outside to smoke, and we talked for a few more minutes.

I went back in to finish what I was working on, and as I walked over to refill my coffee the Red Ukrainian and The Jeweler were both staring at me in disbelief. “What?” I asked and the Red Ukrainian says “ A beautiful woman asks you to go out with her for a night on the town, not just any town, but she was wanting to take you across the river for a night of music and dancing, and you tell her ‘No, I gotta do laundry’, unbelievable. What were you thinking?” I shrug my shoulders and say, “Well, I gotta do laundry. I need to finish getting everything ready to sail out and head down the river.”

I sat there, staring at the laptop, thinking, “What the hell was I thinking?” and then it hit me…

The timing just isn’t right for dancing. But it’s always right for music, I think it’s time to put on my Bob Marley tape ….Get Jah Los in de Reggae Mon…and practice what I preach…

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