I like to watch my pool’s
decorative sprays shoot water dramatically into the air. Years ago I would have
found this pool feature excessive, even tacky. I certainly wouldn’t have stared
at it gleefully transfixed as I do today.
But that’s because I used to be the too-serious sort; the kind who
preferred Masterpiece Theater to American Idol, Yoga to Zumba, glasses to
contacts. I wore mainly black- you know the type- they like to speak French.
Then I moved to Sarasota. It’s not
that I don’t still do the things I used to do up North, I just have more fun
doing them down here, along with other new hot weather activities. Take the large pots
of abundant flowers I’ve been placing around the pool. Home is now
affectionately known as the Jungle Gym de Flores; flowers are everywhere- climbing
up ropes, cascading down pipes, peeking out from boxes. There are so many it
looks like I’m in the landscaping business and have overstocked. I admit it, it’s unusually
colorful on the lanai. Which is why, while I love Sarasota’s fashionable mid
century modern houses with their elegant and clean architecture, I couldn’t
live in one. Only a plant with the soul of a bonsai would work well in those
settings.
Instead, I live with this riot of color
in the type of home you see lots of around Sarasota, in both ordinary
subdivisions and waterfront properties alike- the ever-popular Mediterranean
Style. These houses are just pleading to be covered by climbing flowering vines,
and for some Mediterranea-no-no’s, what a great idea that is.
Isn’t the Mediterranean Style house
architecturally derivative? Of
course, Purist. But you go and buy an original in the
Mediterranean. And btw, if you go house hunting, count me in. We can start in
Lake Como, preferably near that gadabout, George Clooney, and his hideaway
Villa Ucantahaveme.
Until then, I’ll enjoy the abundance of Sarasota homes with their clay-tiled roofs,
bougainvillea flanked arched windows and walls of vibrant colors that go so
well with our gorgeous semi tropical weather.
And I’ll watch my pool sprays and listen
to their tinkling sound while I’m writing. They’re not only a natural
accompaniment to my Jungle Garden de Flores, but they also conveniently block out
all unwanted interruptions. For example, when someone talks to me from inside
the house, I can do that universal index finger to ear “I can’t hear
you” head shaking gesture and still appear polite, even when I hear them perfectly well. (It’s the water’s fault, all parties
concur.) I don’t know why people don’t just come outside to talk to me when I
do that, but thankfully, they never do.
Must be those water sprays have miraculous powers.
I could see their powers at play
recently when a writer friend and I were sitting by the pool working. Four
hours flew by and we both had finished our stories without a word having passed
between us. Perhaps these magic waters provide not only privacy but a new way
to meet deadlines too! This
thought made us giddy until my friend starting reading the newspaper that included
the results of a new Finnish “Sitting” study. Apparently the conclusion was
that the more hours people sit every day, the greater their chance of dying
prematurely.
Our mood changed abruptly. Being a highly suggestible person and
not yet ready to die, my heart leapt at the thought of changing my career to
become, say, a professional dancer (although I have virtually no experience in
this field). My friend, being a normal person, suggested that we take a long walk, which we both agreed was a more reasonable and immediate solution. So out of
the chairs we were. Ciao, bella pool sprays and bougainvillea dominatrix. We
headed in the downtown direction with my two poodles, Dash and Domino.
Domino, 19th century Ancestor, Dash
Sarasota Bayfront Park near Marina Jack’s was a perfect place to stop. It’s a treat to walk around there. Lovers are out, children play in fountains, and people are picnicking along the bay. We strolled near the water’s edge and a young girl of about 7, Dina, and her mother, stopped us to see my dogs. Dina began to play with them, holding the arms of the bigger one in the air so he had to stand on his hind legs. “He’s dancing. He’s dancing,” she happily cried out. Sure enough, she had picked Domino, the one who actually does do a little jig standing on his back legs. (Good thing she avoided Dash, nobody’s friend.) The girl was beside herself. Eventually, her mother told her they had to go. “Will you come back tomorrow? We’re here every day at this hour. Pleeaase,” Dina begged.
I knew I had to work the next day,
plus The Voice reruns would be on TV. And something really had to be done about
those flowers that are all but strangling my Mediterranean Palazzo; it’s beginning
to take on that unhinged, maniacal look of a gingerbread house made by a pre-schooler. But now that I knew I had those magic waters
at my disposable, couldn’t I cut my work time in half and bring Domino to meet
this young girl again? I could always TiVo The Voice and machete the garden
later.
I told them we’d be back tomorrow
and Dina shrieked. The thankful mother suggested we meet at the restaurant right there on the beach, O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Grill and start with dinner. It sounded delightful and I could
picture it well: While the adults would peel some shrimp, Dina and Domino could
play in the sand. They would dance together again and attract attention. Some
other bystanders would surely join us to check out the commotion and another
girl from the crowd would try to dance with my other dog, Dash. Dash would then bite her and we’d all wind
up at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in the Emergency Room and/or one of the local
police stations.
Sarasota is not the cure for every
living creature, it must be acknowledged. But sometimes my daughter sets Dash
afloat on a long green raft in the magical waters of our pool. Legs akimbo, he stands proudly, even
happily, as he drifts slowly through the Jungle Garden de Flores, staking his
territory at our Mediterranea-No-No home.
Please read by other http://whatdogsreallythink.blogspot.com/
Please read by other http://whatdogsreallythink.blogspot.com/
Ah, Pamela, I missed this post......As a lover of all things dog, I laughed out loud as you recounted the good, the bad, and the outrageous of Domino and Dash!! You had me, right there on the beach. I could almost smell the sea and hear the shrieks of laughter from the little girl. The reality of differences between the "boys" evoked a smile over Domino's dancing form. I envisioned a "flash mob" of dogs and people swirling to the imaginary music…….You Tube calling……Then, not nearly as interested in all the booty shaking activity of his poodle pal, Dash displays his discontent. Hence, the LOL moment on my part!!
ReplyDeleteI’m sure Dash cuts a mighty Napoleonic figure as he floats majestically upon his green throne.
Thank you for injecting additional humor into my daily readings. It’s always appreciated!