My Gift

Over the teal blue water of the bay, I see the dark blue cloud race towards the island. The calm of a brilliant Caribbean morning is blown away by the wind. The long branches of the Palm Trees sway towards one direction. Yellow butterflies disappear as do the Hummingbirds. Foot long green Geckos dart to the Tropical bushes. The sun is blotted from the sky as the rain begins to fall.

I am sitting on the patio of our tiny studio, sipping coffee listening to Pirate Radio out of Key West.  People rush off the beach clad in their towels. A coconut falls to the ground in front of me.

Just as suddenly the sun reclaims the sky, the cloud rushes to the mountains and the calm returns. The butterflies again are everywhere. The lizards scatter across the wet sandy road. The Palm Trees stand at attention in a clear blue sky.

It is our last day here.

Sarah is sleeping still having finally succumbed to Sand Gravity.

Hania rushes towards Le Boutique to buy croissants for our lunch today.   Conner stumbles out, hair askew from his pillow, clutching a steaming cup of tea. People make their way back to the beach.

I am living these moments, savoring them, doing my best to force an impression of the sights, sounds and feelings on my brain. This is my twenty-fourth time here and I've yet to be ready to leave though it's different this time. A happy home awaits me. Work and play are scheduled for the rest of the year. Friends and family are making plans to visit.

Sarah wakes so I pour her juice and make her coffee.

It strikes me that this year, what I get for my birthday is home.

I can't think of a better gift.