Long beach walk this morning; infinite range of rose and lavender on horizon reflected in wet sand retreating tide had left; mauve palmettos on still-dark dune.  Reverence comes to mind; little else.  A few birds, a few walkers, all seemed held by the quiet transition, common and unique.

And then suddenly the sun popped up and the color went wild toward the orange and red end of the spectrum.  But only briefly.  In two minutes it all receded into a yellow sky, then pale blue, with a white sun you couldn’t look at.  Stood atop the dune walkover a long time just watching.

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Nervously pleased with the garden so far. Everything thriving in brilliant greens, with flowers coming out on the largest tomato plants, and buds forming on the peppers.  Still need a good soaking rain, though, and have some forecast for beginning of next week.

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Some good friends from up the road in Jacksonville came down for the day.  Haven’t seen them in many months.  We took lunch up at Snack Jack’s in Flagler Beach.  Actually it’s called High Tides at Snack Jack’s, which is cumbersome, but something the current owners thought necessary when they took over the place several years ago.  It had been Snack Jack’s for a very long time, and a Flagler institution.  We knew the old owner pretty well, and used to go there quite a lot.  Papa even had his second book publication party there.  But she sold out finally and went into real estate.  It is a relic from a by-gone era, a funky little bar and fish restaurant built right out on the dune, with outdoor tables, and a nice little indoor bar.  Still a decent place, but the food and service aren’t what they used to be, and there’s Valet Parking now, which don’t seem right for a beach bar.  Had a good fish sandwich, though, and much good conversation.  Still it’s just not the same, and neither are we.

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