Sabbatical -- Day 29: Red Tide, Red Bull, Red Line

July 26

No energy today. By 9:00am it was 90 degrees. Sat outside a bit, but it just sucked the wind out of me.

Southwest Florida has been experiencing Red Tide conditions for months. This week a whale shark floated onto the Sanibel Beach. They suspect the Red Tide killed it. There have been a larger-than-usual amount of sea turtle fatalities this year. Again, they suspect Red Tide. Red Tide is officially known as Harmful Algal Bloom or HAB. It sends spores into the air and causes respiratory problems for humans. Every time we go near the ocean, Kelly starts to cough. I did get on the beach on Tuesday night, but I coughed a bit too. So, we have had no beach time. I spent some time at the pool. But, the closer we get to the gulf side of Naples the worse it is on Kelly. We are hoping that it changes tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I had zero energy today. I laid around the condo. Napped a bit. Read a ton of news instead of reading the book I should have been reading. Snacked on fresh fruit and really sharp white cheddar cheese. When late afternoon came calling and it was time to go somewhere to eat I popped open a can of Red Bull. It was the very first time I had ever tried it, and there is no doubt it will be the last. To me, and this is my opinion only, it tastes like fizzy cough syrup. No thanks.

We ate dinner at the Riverwalk Restaurant, on the bay side, on the water. It was ok. The food was good enough. The ambiance plenty good. But, it was hot. We drove down to the Naples Dock at Crayton Cove and walked out onto the pier. There we met LEO the Jack Russell and his owners who live aboard a 50' Gulfstar sailcraft. They bought it in March and live on it. Here's a photo of her.

A lot of people dream of living aboard a boat, but Brad, LEO and the spouse of Brad (She didn't introduce herself) are actually living on the boat. Living on a boat is not an easy thing to do. There is always work to be done on the boat. He built, by hand, all new chainplates for the boat this spring and had $4000 of rigging laying on the deck, waiting to be installed. Something is always breaking and needing repaired on a boat. It has to be weatherproofed annually when you live on the boat. It sounds romantic, and if you are up for the challenge, it is, but there are few who are up to the challenge. Nothing on a boat this size is cheap. Brad mentioned that his credit card had a thin red line he was about to cross. I feel for him. With Tula Mor, our Ensenada 20' we can count on spending about $1000 when something goes wrong. With Two Amigos, the Gulfstar 50', it's about $10,000. Brad mentioned that BOAT meant Bring Out Another Thousand. Like, I said, I feel for him. But, watching her pull away from the dock and into the bay was a pretty sight.

I suspect we rise to the challenges we face most of the time. Sometimes we get to choose our challenges, like the Gulfstar 50' and sometimes we don't, like when your dear loved one dies suddenly and without any time to plan. Challenges can make us better people. It happens sometimes when we are tested that we find the mettle of our spirits, meet the challenge and prove ourselves courageous and determined. Sometimes organizations that go through challenges find new and creative ways to pull together and persevere. Sometimes. Sometimes challenges roll over us like waves, rendering us foundered and in need. Whatever challenges we face, we pray that friends will stand with us, that God will give us a vision and a direction, and that we have the strength to meet the day.

This is the day the Lord has made.

Peace and Love,
Jerry