May 10: Sunshine Moments

In South Florida, you have moments. Special moments, sometimes - if you let yourself become aware of them. You experience these when you live here. And you can experience these as a tourist too. They happen partly because of our near-constant daytime sunshine, which washes our landscape in an optimistic glow. And also partly because of the landscape itself, the exotic palm trees and equally exotic wildlife. And the grand stretch of sea that is such a dramatic presence. Just keep your eyes open, and your ears, and open up your mind and heart a little too. Put down the cellphone and get in touch with the tropical surroundings. If you do, I'm pretty sure that you'll understand what I mean.

I was reminded of this on Saturday morning as I drove south along A1A, my sunroof and windows wide open to that glowing, optimistic sunlight and exotic flora-and-fauna and dramatic ocean. Yes, I had one of those small, lovely, memorable South Florida moments while motoring along in my car.

I rounded the corner on A1A to approach the northern end of Fort Lauderdale's beach. I wanted a parking space so I could stop the car and just watch the tranquil blue seascape for a while. But all the spots were taken - on both sides of the road. The beach was busy. Very busy, with beach umbrellas opened across the sand and sunbathers spread out on blankets and swimmers splashing in the surf. That was when my moment occurred. I realized that the recent warmer temperatures had brought the locals back to the water, as happens each year around this time. Living in Greater Fort Lauderdale, we want our ocean to feel like bathwater when we get into it, or pretty darned warm anyway. Floridians grow accustomed to comfortable swims. So I recognized the signs at once: We had crossed into that fun season when residents and tourists mingle in large numbers along our summer beaches. At that very instant, my radio started to play a familiar song. "Here Comes The Sun" by the Beatles. "Little darling, it's been a long, cold, lonely winter," George Harrison was singing. "It seems like years since it's been clear. Here comes the sun!" To me, the song's optimism perfectly matched the scene. I had the sense that the world around me had come alive in some way, with hundreds of people smiling and laughing and enjoying the summery day. And I was part of it. This was just another of those small, special South Florida moments as I smiled along with the beachgoers and the music and the sunlight and the sea. Ah yes, I could feel it all very clearly now - the Beatles were right. Here comes the sun.