The hidden (almost) terrors of Florida...

Don't let this idyllic sunset in Dragon Bay fool you: Florida has it's own ways of tormenting humans. Lest one think this is a complaint let me preface this entry with the statement that the abnormally beautiful weather here makes up for everything else. BUT, there are two pests that presently are affecting all of us. The first is the dreaded no-see-um. These little critters are worse than mosquitos! They are practically invisible, no larger than the point of a fine-lead mechanical pencil. They are able to fly through our netting that would catch larger insects, and come in at night to feed. They bite. It is a little tiny bite, but a bite no less. It itches and wakes one up from what would otherwise be a blissful sleep. We have taken to spraying the nets with anti-bug stuff, but these guys are persistent. The other phenomenon is the "red tide". This is an algae which floats in at times and causes humans to cough and eyes to itch. Regrettably, just when Wayne's sister Jean came yesterday to enjoy a walk on the beach, the beach was not friendly. As soon as we jumped out of the car to see the beautiful Atlantic, Jean's husband Vic and I started to cough. Strange. We walked into the restaurant where they were kind enough to treat us to lunch, still coughing. The hostess explained the red tide had come in that day, and EVERYONE was coughing. Our plans to dine on the balcony overlooking the sea were dashed as the restaurant had closed up the balcony due to the irritants in the air. We had a lovely lunch, and bold Jean and Wayne decided to take a brief walk on the beach anyway. No picture could do justice to the sight of this brother and sister walking gently along the beach, surf pounding, conversing quietly. In sum, although the forces of nature conspire to remind us that life is not perfect, it is in fact not bad.