October Sunday Evening ...

I stared at the flags outside the window all day while I was working, thinking the winds were lightening up. I missed the Durbin Creek bike ride today because I had to work. It's one I really love. It winds through lots of deserted country roads, and I knew everyone was going. Everyone except me. I had to make the cupcakes. So, I should feel lucky I have two jobs when so many people who work at car manufacturing plants were laid off this week. It will be interesting to see if the suicide rate rises in the months to come. But, enough with this dark talk. So, I ride the bike up A1A as soon as I get home because the day is so gorgeous, cool, sunny, and bright. Along the way, I notice that the wind is indeed dying down, and the first view of the ocean tells me that an evening surf session may be coming. I pull off the road and call Andy and Karen, but they are not picking up. Maybe they are surfing. As soon as I get home, I jump in the car and head to the beach. The pier is a nightmare, the parking lot filled without reason. It takes me forever to even get back on A1A, the traffic is so bad. Finally I get to 8th street, and I decide I am going out no matter what. The afternoon had taken an annoying turn. Someone did not tell me until late afternoon that a party I was supposed to go to was a potluck, and dang if I was cooking anymore today. In fact, I wasn't in the mood for another party at all. Surfing was going to make it all better. And, it did. All my frustration and angst became fuel for one of the most energized sessions I have had in a long, long time. It was wave after wave until dark. Surfing heals all, yes indeed. When I got in, I had 8 missed calls. Two of them were Andy and Karen. Both of them had been running errands all afternoon, and hadn't even checked it. I hated to have to tell Karen when we talked. I know all too well how that feels. I never even called Andy to tell him. That would just be cruel...