Diamonds in the sand

Friday and Saturday, January 27 and 28, 2012

DUNEDIN, FL—Raindrops hammered on the roof of our motorhome in the wee hours of yesterday morning, and the thunder boomed. Even when I got up and stuffed plugs into my ears, I could still hear the storm, but I managed to get back to sleep for a few more hours. When we got up and looked out, there were lots of puddles, but our little blue car was all shiny and clean again. We were glad to have the free car wash.
It was much cooler after the rain, and the day remained overcast – a good day for going to the movies. We like to know at least a few of the nominated movies before Oscar night, so we decided to go and see The Iron Lady with Meryl Streep. Once again, Streep upheld her reputation for superb acting, portraying the former British PM at the height of her career and in her waning years, and maintaining a perfect accent throughout.
The weather was nicer today but still cooler than we have had lately. Everyone is saying this winter in Florida is especially fine and warm, so we’re not complaining! Still, the doors to the laundry room that are normally open at either end were closed because the breeze through was chilly. I got the weekly laundry done this morning so there was time for more exploring this afternoon.
Our destination this time was Honeymoon Island, just off the shore at Dunedin and connected to the mainland with a causeway. Sandy beach and palm trees lined the route to the island, and when we got on the island we headed to the tip. There was quite a bit of surf as the white-capped waves in the bay rolled in to shore. Millions of tiny shells, and fragments of larger ones, made up the beach, as well as porous rocks. I wondered how long it took the waves to grind them into the powdered sand we’d seen on some Caribbean shores.
Despite the cool breeze, some people were actually out swimming or parasailing. We preferred to watch. Was it the island’s name, or just the beauty of the day that brought couples’ hands together as they strolled along?
Later we had a look at the little museum at Honeymoon Island State Park, where we learned about sea birds, turtles and racoons. Also on display were some photos of the first newlyweds who came when the island opened for business in the 1940s. The honeymoon cottages they stayed in (for free) were just grass shacks, really. But when word got out that the island was available for people who couldn’t afford a proper honeymoon, towns all over the states held contests and sent winning couples here with all expenses paid.
We were just heading back to the RV park when John and Fawn called, inviting us to go out for supper with them and another couple, who were heading back north tomorrow to meet their newborn great-grandson. We had a tasty meal with them and heard stories of their early days – which are a lot earlier than ours, since they’ve been married 50 years. The husband related the tale of his first venture out with a brand new metal detector, at a golf course where they had recently done some landscaping. When the gadget signaled a find, he started to dig around and picked up some quarters, plus a mud-encrusted bracelet. Washing it off back at home, he found it was made of gold, and dazzling with diamonds! Because the land fill came from elsewhere, it was impossible to trace an owner, so the bracelet has been a family treasure ever since. From the look on their smiling faces, their honeymoon is still under way.