The weather forecast throughout North America is a winter storm.  In Florida this translates to the possibility of rain, wind and temperatures plummeting to 56°F judiciously isolated to Saturday, Sunday and Monday which in this instance means Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. In anticipation of this impending peril, and knowing that children and grandchildren have already begun to arrive on Key Largo to holiday with the senior generation, I ensured I was positioned at my chaise longue by the pool early this morning. It must have been shortly after 10:30 am.  There was no one else there so I had no trouble locating what for me is the most desirable perch; namely, southeasterly (for the morning sunrise), most northerly (away from the impending afternoon shadows) and westerly (to avoid the shade of the trees on the far side of the pool).

As I had expected my solitude was not long-lasting.  What I hadn’t predicted however was the arrival of the troupe from Missouri complete with two boisterous fathers (probably siblings or related by blood) and four children ranging in age from 4 – 10 years (I’m guessing).  Oh, and a portable sound system from which was generated a non-stop variation (I use the word loosely) of country music in 2/4 time, repetitive drum beat and perpetual theme of hot girls, whiskey and what I presume was a litany of misfortune and sadness. I hasten to note that this is the first time in the past two months we’ve had anything resembling “music” by the pool. It was difficult to discern which was more challenging, the music or the shrill screams of the children.

I did however stand (or should I say, lie) fast upon my determination to get every possible measure of sunshine today. It was an idyllic day, blue sky, eternal sunshine, 78°F. Many times I fashioned what I would do with the ghetto blaster.  And the parents.  And the children.  But then I tempered my curmudgeonly assaults by reminding myself that it is Christmas. And the parenting is not easy.  And – to a certain extent – Americans behave differently than stuffy Canadians (though I confess the mollification was not terribly convincing).

As it turned out, I was glad I kept to myself. Late in the afternoon our next door neighbours (who happen to be from Windsor, Ontario) arrived for a swim. Michelle is a personable person who happens to enjoy the company of children.  She succeeded to bridge the gap between me and the children (who were frolicking in the pool during the period Michelle and I were paddling about). Her husband Bob is a cyclist so we had plenty to gab about though again I qualify the connection by highlighting that Bob is far more energetic about cycling than I. He cycles about 1,000 Kms per annum or some other astonishing quotient. In any event he is athletic about the endeavour though we quipped about my tricycle.

The summit of my day by the pool was the unprovoked recognition of me by two ladies, one being the youngest 4-year old child (who observed I have scary blue eyes), the other the first woman whom I met by the pool early last November (who I discovered when I remarked she had had her hair cut, employs the same hair stylist as I – Cindy’s Hair Place about which we had some good laughs). It probably speaks to my love of light conversation with others that my day was insulated from the earlier annoyances which I previously mentioned.

As the day approached 3:30 pm there were traces of clouds moving across the sky, threatening to invite the anticipated cooler weather and to diminish the likelihood of so-called “beach” weather in the immediate future.  Judging by the glow I am now experiencing it is just as well that my chance of absorption of the sun’s rays is waning for the next several days. The only possible disappointment is that the holiday visit of the parents and children is reportedly on the horizon until the middle of January.  Such are the accommodations required.  I quell this concern by reminding myself that we have now surpassed the Winter Solstice and that the sea will be my more frequent venue for sun, relaxation and swimming exercise.  There is no question that my frequent swims today improved the damage my lower limbs suffer when I tricycle and abuse my knees with bone-on-bone.