Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Literary Mileage
Opening of the Shutters

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Shutters announce arrivals and departures.

This winter my sister and I are “squatting” in a nice condo building overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in south Florida. The building has about 140 apartments—all with a view of the pool and the ocean. Each is equipped with hurricane shutters–big white folding vinyl ’doors’ to protect against storms. Some also may use them to close against the intense tropical sun. Linda and I leave ours open all the time. We’re on the south side of the building and never get direct sunlight on our patio.
We were told that most of the annual snowbirds would begin arriving throughout the month of January and there would be an opening-of-the-shutters potluck dinner to welcome the ‘regulars’ back. As predicted, people began moving in from upstate New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Canada, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois…   

Holiday lights and a full moon.

 On January 8, I began logging how many of the shutters were open, how many were closed. I expected this to be easy….record the number opened up from one count to the next. However, I’ve discovered that some were open through the holidays and closed up afterward. Maybe those were short-term rentals. It is possible that some of the closed ones may actually be occupied, but are closed periodically for one reason or another, though I can’t imagine closing them to our spectacular view. It quickly became easier to count the ones that were closed. January 8 it was 41; January 18-32, and January 26-24. The potluck was on January 21st and about 90 people attended.     

Sunrise over the pool and the Atlantic

I suppose I could do more exhaustive research, but these elements—the continuous rhythm of the waves, a salty ocean breeze, soothing sunshine–are having their way with me. I can’t be bothered with anything too ‘exhaustive’….

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

 

« Older Entries |

Copyright © 2012 Judy Leaver. All rights reserved. Design by Adam Sweeney Creative.