May 5, 2022
Tropical Exotics Trailing Over A Fence Boca Grande Florida
"There was a time when meadow grove and stream, the earth and every common sight, to me did seem appareled in celestial light." William Wordsworth/Ode Intimations of Immortality
Cycles, seasons, chapters. Endings, middles and beginnings each have their own rhythm and feeling. The best lived life embraces each part.
Winter in the tropics is a special treat ... a time to feel balmy breezes brush your face, to bob and dive in warm waves, to enjoy colorful, fragrant flowers everywhere, to be bathed in warm sunshine, to relax and watch graceful palms sway gently in the wind. You might sip a margarita at a Tiki bar, watch boats glide by on turquoise waters or feast on tasty fare at an old fish shanty. You might relax in a hammock by a beachside villa or take long walks on white sand ocean beaches.
I remember one long winter spent on St John, Virgin Islands. Our villa was remote, tucked in the trees, ran on solar and was built from recycled materials. It was part of an eco-resort. No TV or radio, but we could ride to town in our jeep over mountain roads with hairpin turns, through a jungle canopy occasionally opening to spectacular island vistas and eventually arriving at the local village of Cruz Bay with its colorful shops, cafes, restaurants and ferry landing. I loved sinking into that simple life. We had a stove and a shower, a grill and a small balcony that overlooked the cove from high among the trees, where the hummingbird and the bananaquit would come and sing everyday. We cooked simply, ate out often and lived off the good vibes. There was a great food truck on the side of the mountain and some wonderful restaurants with gorgeous Caribbean views perched alongside the more remote and wilder roads. We snorkeled Salt Pond with its colorful tropical fish and ancient sea turtles, swam in the pristine waters of Trunk Bay and hiked Reef Bay Trail past worn down sugar mills and ancient petroglyphs all the way to a small hidden beach at the base of the mountain. It was a tough dream to leave!!
Like all good things, it is worthwhile to reflect on the the season which is ending. Appreciation deepens the memories you created. Like savoring a good meal, it enhances the time you spent. Every year ushers in something new. You never know what the next season will bring, so whether you are remembering winter fires and Sunday roasts; blizzards and the crunch of snow under boot or swaying palms, pineapple coladas, and sunsets by the pier; take a moment to celebrate the passing season before you embrace the next with curious anticipation.
Take time to look for the celestial light bathing all that beauty...It is still there, though you have to slow down, open your eyes and see it with your heart. As Antoine de St Exuperey once said, "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye."
CLICK ON THE FIRST PICTURE BELOW TO SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF TROPICAL BEAUTY AND PASSING TIME
