Under a bridge with the sound of cars above like music. Sitting by the bay with smiles, freeze-dried ice cream, and buffalo wings. Francisco says we should dance in the water but Ian was our voice of reason. We should just sit and enjoy the shade. United. Loved. Holding ice in our hands to keep ourselves continually cool on the hot, summer day. This is how life should always be.
The smell of cooking food like steak traveled to our noses. We could almost hear the sizzle of the grill in our heads. We should play a game. Everyone grins at my child-like suggestion, a boat goes by. Let’s feed the fish buffalo wings! Jason’s suggestion brings lots of sighs and ugh’s. I flung one of my spicy wings into the green water. Sticky sauce covered my hands. Simultaneously Jason did the same-- A high five like sticky glue. Almost falling over into the water. With giggles and love. This is how life should always be.
We could hear the voices of happy people in the distance. Voices like never-melting ice cream, sweet, constant, happy.
Sitting close together. Holding hands. And singing to the distant music. That’s not what we were doing, but we were emanating the same level of fun and happiness as that event would have been. We were like the picture of youth and happiness-- like Picasso had painted us. Another boat went by.
We were in the center of the prettiest place on earth. To our left were docks and historic buildings filled with candy. Clothes. Antiques as old as the building and older. To our right was a limitless supply of food. Fun. People. In between the two was the beautiful, flawless Florida foliage like a picture. The air like fresh blooming flowers and the smell of just-ground salt. Our minds were peace. Our tummies were full and still wanting more. There was no messing with the absolute pure perfection of where we were. What we were. How we felt. And another boat went by.
Finally giving into the temptation, we dip our feet in the water. Refreshing and cool. Francisco gently slaps Ian on the back grinning. I laugh for no reason-- My ice cream falls into the water. The warm splash of clear blue-green hits our faces. As another boat goes flying past us, the passengers stand up and wave at us. Their friendly and beckoning waves are a complete reflection of our calmness and peace and happiness. There was no doubt in my mind, that this is how life always should be. Forever.
Let’s play a game. Jason suggests. I think we should feed the fish buffalo wings. I beamed. We should dance in the water. Ian laughs, lightly punching Francisco in the shoulder. Francisco looks at us: Everything right now is perfect. Like summer. Like ice cream. Like friends sitting together by the water with buffalo wings. We should just sit. And enjoy the shade.
