“Do
you go to St. Martin?” he asked.
I
stood swaying in the sunshine watching thousands of Flying Fish skirt over the
dark blue water. It was mesmerizing! Translucent tiny things jumped from the
ocean and flew twenty or thirty yards
before making small splashes in the deep.
“I
do,” I said turning my head to see a chubby man wearing a baseball cap. His
grin was lopsided and his voice a high pitched whine that I instantly didn’t
like.
“I
recognized your Georgia cap” he said
moving the lopsided grin to the other side of his lip.
I
love my UGA cap! It’s black but
almost faded white from the sun, sea and salt. The bill is ripped and frays
hang down in my eyes. There are three rips in the top; one beside the logo and
two on the back side. I don’t know how long I’ve worn it but it’s almost broken
in.
“It’s
probably the same cap,” I sighed.
“I
remember you,” he grated on, “and your wife. She was trying to get a job down
there.”
It
was the worst thing he could possibly have said. All these years later, I’ve
come to understand that she had begun the process of leaving me long before she
actually did. She just kept increasing the distance between us until I was no
longer significant enough to return.
“Is
she here?”
I
pointed to Sarah reading a book and working on her tan.
The
chubby man walked to her and looked down. “I don’t remember you at all,” he
said with a confused look.
“Oh
well,” the lopsided grin returned, “Hi.”
And
he left.
He
just wasn't worth the energy to set straight.
Returning
to the Flying Fish, I fought off the urge to allow a bad mood to overtake me. I’m
happy with the life I have now. Sarah is full of love and joy and I’m crazy
about her. We’re building this life and delight in the things we are doing.
The
past is mostly a collection of stories that I enjoy sharing. There are some
though that I never return to. They’re just not worth the energy!
Bending
over, I kiss my love on the top of her head. The fish jump for joy. And we
continue to build the NOW.
