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Friday, February 21, 2014

an opportunity seized

John, Pam, Dave and I drove down to Venice to meet Steve and MonaLiza (lowestravels.com) at Sharkey's on the Pier today.  The Lowe's are staying in Punta Gorda until Monday so we seized the opportunity to meet each other halfway.   We all love the flexibility this lifestyle affords us, the flexibility to drop what we're doing and spend the afternoon with friends when they're nearby just because they're near.   These moments are all the more precious because we never know when we'll have the opportunity again.   The Lowes', the Bank's and the Wright's plans diverge from this point next month, so we "made hay while the sun shines"!



After a huge lunch at Sharkey's we walked out on the pier, at least we girls did.   The guys stood in one spot and talked and talked.


Pam and MonaLiza are shameless hams







Dave, John and Steve neatly arranged on the pier







MonaLiza made them stop talking and smile for a photograph


MonaLiza, Pam and I continued our walk along the beach looking for Venice's famed fossilized shark teeth.  We found a few teeny tiny ones, but it was fun looking.  The guys trailed behind, still talking.

I guess Steve was talking and taking pictures, thanks Steve!





None of us were really ready to head home, so we decided to find Snook Haven, an old Florida fishing camp turned restaurant on the Myakka River.


It is at the end of a long shell road on the banks of the primeval looking Myakka River.

agreed






Steve, MonaLiza, Dave and I explored the area a bit while John and Pam stayed in the jeep, on the phone (s) trying to sort out Pam's mother's delayed (then finally cancelled) plane reservations.   She was to arrive in  Sarasota this evening but with the bad weather everywhere her flights were becoming more and more complicated.   Back and forth, back and forth Pam went, her mom, the airlines, her son Kevin, the airlines, her mother, her sister.    Will she make it?    Please hold for the next available agent.   Please leave your number and we'll get back to you within the next 3 hours.    The flight has been cancelled and rebooked with a million connections, sorry but that's all we can do.

At last the 6 of us settled into a nice table next to the water, ordered sweet teas and a couple beers, laughed and talked and generally enjoyed the company of friends and the serendipity of our lives.



9 comments:

  1. It was a great day for all of us! The COOL people that met at Snook Haven. Thank you too for meeting us half way but most importantly to Dave for waiting on us on the highway while navigating the busy streets of Venice. Whew!

    I know we will meet again, we will just have to keep an eye on each others travels. Love those pics especially the hams :)

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  2. What a day! Sounds like you couldn't' possibly fit anymore into it. Loved Snook's motto and colorful sign. Glad you had a good day.

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  3. Awesome! What a great time....

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  4. Oh I am so very jealous of y'all. What a wonderful day and lots of memories.

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  5. What a fun day! How neat you were all within driving distance for a brief time!

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  6. What a wonderful life this is, meeting some of the most interesting people. One day Terry and I hope to meet the two of you. Wish you two hadn't been ill when we met up with Pam and John. Given the roads we all travel, hopefully one day our paths will cross. Safe travels!

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  7. Always a great time connecting with fun people!

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  8. A great post capturing the joys of connecting with friends whom you have met along the way. Glad you "made hay while the sun shines!"

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