RSS
When I stepped outside in Lighthouse Point this morning, droplets of rain were standing on my car. The sky was overcast and I left my convertible top up as I drove away from my girlfriend’s condo. After a delightful Easter with several friends, I had to get home now and back to work. But I couldn’t resist taking the long way to my place in Dania Beach, down A1A alongside the ocean. The day already was brightening a bit but I still didn’t need my sunglasses as I rolled into Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. I came to a small shopping center with a coffee and doughnut shop that I often visit during these morning rides south once or twice each week. I find it enjoyable to pause for a half hour’s light breakfast and some down time all for myself.
So I pulled into the shopping plaza, parked and walked toward the doughnut place. It sits directly below an interesting mural – a large painting of the sky, mostly blue with some billowy white clouds, rising maybe 30 feet or so from the sidewalk below. The mural’s surface is curved, like a shell, which somehow seems to contribute to the illusion. When I arrived today, the blue mural stood out oddly against the gray sky. But that soon changed.
I waited in a long line and bought a black coffee and one plain cake doughnut, my usual order there. Then I went outdoors to eat on a decorative wall in front of the mural. The air was cool and refreshing and I took a bite from the doughnut, which tasted just mildly sweet. The coffee was blistering and I burned my mouth on the first sip but the pain went away as I looked up at the sky. The real sky behind the mural. It was rapidly turning blue just like the painting. The heavy gray clouds were breaking up and the sun was emerging and the blue behind the clouds was spreading. By this time, many more people were arriving for breakfast or to run errands at neighboring stores. People from all over. Sitting in that single small shopping center, I noticed license plates from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Minnesota, Maine, New York, New Jersey and Ontario. Oh yes, and Florida. When I’d finished my doughnut and half the coffee, the sky almost exactly mirrored the bright blue mural with the painted wisps of cloud. I returned to my car, put on my sunglasses and lowered my convertible top for the rest of the homeward drive. The morning was turning pretty and I was ready for work now.
So I pulled into the shopping plaza, parked and walked toward the doughnut place. It sits directly below an interesting mural – a large painting of the sky, mostly blue with some billowy white clouds, rising maybe 30 feet or so from the sidewalk below. The mural’s surface is curved, like a shell, which somehow seems to contribute to the illusion. When I arrived today, the blue mural stood out oddly against the gray sky. But that soon changed.
I waited in a long line and bought a black coffee and one plain cake doughnut, my usual order there. Then I went outdoors to eat on a decorative wall in front of the mural. The air was cool and refreshing and I took a bite from the doughnut, which tasted just mildly sweet. The coffee was blistering and I burned my mouth on the first sip but the pain went away as I looked up at the sky. The real sky behind the mural. It was rapidly turning blue just like the painting. The heavy gray clouds were breaking up and the sun was emerging and the blue behind the clouds was spreading. By this time, many more people were arriving for breakfast or to run errands at neighboring stores. People from all over. Sitting in that single small shopping center, I noticed license plates from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Minnesota, Maine, New York, New Jersey and Ontario. Oh yes, and Florida. When I’d finished my doughnut and half the coffee, the sky almost exactly mirrored the bright blue mural with the painted wisps of cloud. I returned to my car, put on my sunglasses and lowered my convertible top for the rest of the homeward drive. The morning was turning pretty and I was ready for work now.
posted by LauderBLOGGER at 1:54 PM
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home