The global Coronavirus pandemic has taken its toll in many ways.  Though our particular circumstance does not warrant especial sympathy, there are regrets. At the instance of the Canadian government and our medical insurers, tomorrow we reluctantly depart for Canada from our beloved Longboat Key. Paradoxically today is not only the first day of spring, it is the last day of our winter vacation concluded exactly one month earlier than anticipated.

“In 2020, the spring equinox (also called the March equinox or vernal equinox) occurs on Thursday, March 19, which is earlier than it’s been in over a century! This event marks the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.“

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Just when the Coronavirus pandemic is translating into an invisible plague with social stigma attached to those who persist in pretending they can beat the odds or that the risk is somehow confined to the elderly or everyone other than themselves, I have been meeting people here who characterize my winter visit as extraordinary. For the second time in recent weeks I have met a chap aligned with the power generation industry. He’s from Pennsylvania where – not surprisingly – the generation of power is not from run-of-the river water (as was my experience) but rather coal fired.

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Lingering here has become out of the question. Following receipt yesterday of an advisory issued by the government of Canada that Canadians travelling abroad should return home or face possible border closing and denial of entry, we’re returning home on Thursday, March 19th. It matters paramountly that our medical insurance will terminate within ten days – an event certainly not worth risking when the availability of hospitalization under any circumstance or at any cost is threatened. Finally if one were by some persuasion to remain here there is the indignity of being perceived as some kind of freak in no man’s land not to mention the metaphorical Death in Venice attribute.

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In the common law of torts, res ipsa loquitur (Latin for “the thing speaks for itself”) is a doctrine that infers negligence from the very nature of an accident or injury in the absence of direct evidence on how any defendant behaved. Although modern formulations differ by jurisdiction, common law originally stated that the accident must satisfy the necessary elements of negligence: duty, breach of duty, causation, and injury. In res ipsa loquitur, the elements of duty of care, breach, and causation are inferred from an injury that does not ordinarily occur without negligence.

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Considering how devoted I am to deepening my tan it hardly seems appropriate to condemn the fidelity as indolent. It was just after nine o’clock this morning when we returned from a healthful repast at the Green Zebra on Main Street in Sarasota. The place opens at 7:30 am.  We were the first customers.  Upon our arrival the spindly young chef was lifting a heavy umbrella stand onto the outdoor patio. Our table was inside immediately next the window. We had a ready view of the other early birds (predominantly old fogeys such as we) who were going for a walk, walking their dogs or collecting a coffee. We speculated that there were some fine apartments nearby.

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If I am asked “Where did you and Denis meet?” the answer is the Château Laurier Hotel in Ottawa. We were members of the Health Club. Though the official date of our alliance began on Saturday, February 24, 1996 when we arranged to go for a martini together after our swim and sauna, there is background leading up to the event. Upon reflection I have discovered that the Château Laurier Hotel insinuates many of the salient experiences of my life involving not only the obvious erstwhile health and current romantic features but also business, society, friends and family – even some curious happenings.

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The weather has been top notch lately; and the forecast for the coming week is similarly reassuring. The sunrise and sunset are about the same time at 7:38 which nicely extends the rapture. This meant a jaunt to Lido Key today was in order. Having done so I am not convinced I am in a rush to return.  The beach was extremely busy. We are at the height of the season and judging by the crowds there appears to be little concern about the current pandemic. The advantage was there was plenty to distract – young couples routinely embracing themselves and swimming as though engaged in synchronized cycles, attentive couples and grandparents with gleefully screaming children, male and female students sporting their new and sometimes lubricious bathing costumes and tossing footballs and frisbees, various visitors of different races and languages (notably French, German and Eastern European).  I was within hearing distance of several colloquies – though admittedly only smatterings of each but sufficient to intrigue me. What I dislike about the beach here in particular is that the water is too shallow for too far; it doesn’t gather depth quickly enough for me.  I shall return to Longboat Key instead. This didn’t stop me from swimming numerous times throughout my four-hour sojourn. Nor did it diminish the pleasure of the children and the supervising parents.

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After last evening’s inspiring congregation – and my subsequent catharsis of recording what had transpired – it was after 3:00 am this morning before I retired to my virginal lair.  Whatever our hosts had said or put into our food or drink last night appeared to have worked a small miracle.  I slept soundly without the usual interruptions until almost noon today. I felt so well upon awakening that I was unable to diminish my customary displeasure when having arisen so late in the day and having undeniably missed an important segment of the day.  Yet I wasn’t entirely convinced that I had either the capacity or the disposition to turn the shortened day into a meaningful result when it was already manifestly curtailed of its elemental foundation. I was wrong.  It has been a perfectly delightful day!

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Today was a single-minded beach venture. Shortly after 10:30 am this morning (having returned from my replenishing visit to Michael, my hair architect) I put on my bathing suit and rubber shoes, mounted my bicycle and headed south to Lido Key. There were fluffy white clouds in the predominantly blue sky but they appeared to be moving northward away from my destination. This proved to be correct though the transition was slow.  By the time I reached the beach and settled myself nearby the shore there was a dome of blue above me.

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