The view looked like some kind of soulless painting. Beautiful but no signs of life. She used to know the names for artistic stuff like that. Photorealistic, maybe? Hell. It was all apocalyptic now. Unexpectedly, tears blurred her vision. She thought her grief had run its course but seeing those empty chairs. So expectant. So normal. Just waiting for someone with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.
Closing her eyes, she shut down those thoughts. She was rooftop for recon. Not useless nostalgia. Before was done. It’s after now.
Thanks for the inspiration. Visit Rochelle’s Friday Fictioner for details about joining in the fun. Plus while you’re there, you can read lots of wonderful stories.
Looking to escape the worst of a summer that will not end, we decided to head north; hoping that four hours of drive time would translate into at least twice that much in degree difference. Spoiler alert: It didn’t! Hit with a short-span heat wave that coincided directly with our trip, it was sweltering. Ugh.
It also was a holiday Monday and I had mixed feelings about being in St. Augustine on that day. What holiday, you ask? The one that Florida denotes as “Columbus Day” but that I (and many like-minded souls) honor as Indigenous People Day.
The day wasn’t chosen deliberately. Our hotel was unavailable on the day we wanted so we had to push the trip back a day. (Or should that be “push the trip up a day”? I always confuse those two.)
NOT our hotel but oh to have danced back in the day!
Anyway, we left a day later than planned and there we were—landing in St. Augustine on “Columbus Day” surrounded by families with lots of kids “celebrating” the triumph of Columbus’ legacy. For those who may not know, St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers. It is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement within the borders of the continental United States. (Which is a really benign way to say that the Spanish came, killed, enslaved, and stole from the indigenous peoples with a passion that Columbus, no doubt, would have found inspiring.)
Plus, apparently autumn is NEVER coming to Florida. Did I mention it was HOT!
So long story short(ish), as non-kid-having trying-to-be-culturally-woke folk, we felt a bit out of our element. BUT, we do love museums and (ironically) the ostentatiousness of the Gilded Age, so the Lightner Museum saved the day!
Housed in the former Alcazar Hotel (built in 1888 by super rich guy named Henry Flagler), the museum is home of one of the premier collections of fine and decorative art in the country. Seriously, Lightner collected everything! Between the hotel itself and the collections on display, it really was like stepping through the Looking Glass into a different world.
Through the Looking Glass …“I don’t think — ” “Then you shouldn’t talk.”“Off with their heads!”In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die: Ever drifting down the stream — Lingering in the golden gleam — Life, what is it but a dream?How doth the little busy bee Improve each shining hour, And gather honey all the day From every opening flower!“Curiouser and curiouser!”“We’re all mad here.”“Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!”“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” (Yes. I was hungry and yes I was thinking about EGGS!)“It takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!”Thus grew the tale of Wonderland: Thus slowly, one by one, Its quaint events were hammered out — And now our tale is done And home we steer, a merry crew, Beneath the setting sun.
Looking at our photos (all made by myself or my husband) and thinking about Cathy’s travel writing suggestions led me to Alice. Thus the Carroll quotes as captions. Hope y’all enjoy!
Several years ago, I visited Slovenia and fell in love. Not with a person. (I was with my husband and we were—and still are—in love.) No. I fell in love with the place. Everything about Slovenia is beautiful and magical, from the Skocjanske caves and the many lakes to Ljubljana’s Dragon Bridge, beautiful buildings, and the wonderful street art. The decision to embrace the energy of accessible creative expression means that no matter where you are in Ljubljana, there is something fabulous just up ahead. Plus, you can always find a cold Lasko when you need a break.
EXCEPT FOR THE CAVES, ALL PHOTOS WERE MADE BY MYSELF OR MY HUSBAND.
THE CAVES WERE MAGNIFICENT. NO PHOTO CAN DO THEM JUSTICE. (STOCK PHOTO)DRAGON BRIDGE MEANS WE’RE HERE!BEAUTIFUL OLD TOWN LJUBLJANAPINK!MY HEART CAPTUREDOLD TOWN FISH HEADSFAVORITES IN THE RAINDOOR TO ADD TO MY DOOR OBSESSIONANOTHER DOOR BUT HIS ONE HAS A SPECIAL PURPOSEHAPPY?ME REACTING TO TRUMP’S LATESTBIG HEAD OR AT LEAST BIG FACE 😉LOVE THIS!!!CAMERA STOREEVEN THE BIKES ARE COOLCHOCOLATE AND PIVOMMMMMM
ME AFTER A LATE NIGHT OF LASKO?
Thanks to What Pegman Saw and Wander Essence for their Photo Challenges. I love a reason to reminisce about one of my favorite places.
Plus a shout out to Fandango’s FOWC for reminding me to keep looking ahead!
Autumn in Florida is … well hotter than heck! Feeling a bit nostalgic for brisk fall days, boots, and cute jackets reminded me of this day in the not-so-distant past. Sitting on our patio, wearing a sweatshirt, drinking a glass of wine–aaaah the sweetness of the cool air! So thanks Comedy Plus Wordless Wednesday for giving me a reason to find this picture. (Photo by me on my old I-phone.)
Usually I’m a words before pictures kinda gal. But these photos (shot by my husband this morning on his morning ride) inspired my haiku today. I am constantly gobsmacked by the beauty around me. I love to travel but I’m lucky to live in such a special place. People come from all over the world to visit my home. And when I’m feeling hopeless about so many things, that beauty reminds me to be hopeful. Even if we don’t survive, the Earth will keep spinning. Its beauty will survive
Tina Stewart Brakebill 