Island Summer

July 28, 2008



Reggie's Birthday!

Island Summer



The summer season continues to percolate along here in Key West and Kathy & I have been busy enjoying the pace that summer brings. There is something special about the summer in that the people here seem to share a heightened sense of community and we seem to be able to spend more time enjoying our friends rather than attending an event where they might happen to be, as is the case during the season.



We found plenty of opportunities this week, whether it was celebrating the birthday of our friend Reggie at Virgilio’s, heading to Ft. Taylor beach for a sunset gathering of friends or even attending the street fair and part of the Hemingway look-a-like competition during the annual Hemingway Days celebration.

Virgilio's



Reggie’ birthday was celebrated at one of Kathy’s favorite bars, Virgilios. We joined Reggie and her boyfriend Terry along with many of her girlfriends who work with her at the Stock Island branch of First State Bank. Reggie is one of the friendliest and fun people we know and we were thrilled to be invited to share in her birthday celebration.

India



One of the great joys of living on a tropical island is being able to head over to the beautiful beach, just about any time with very little effort. We have been taking our dog India to dog beach regularly of late, swimming helps combat the arthritis that is affecting her as she ages. We also have been able to take advantage of the beach at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park, which is still beautiful despite the increased commercialization of the park. We joined our friends Nancy, Mark, Bob, Jody, Ruth & Dan for their weekly Friday sunset picnic last week and it was great fun. The beach was beautiful , we just need to be reminded occasionally about how awesome living in the Keys can be.

Two former winning Papas.

The many annual festivals just add to the fun here. We made a trip down to the annual Hemingway Days Street fair and took in a round of the Hemingway look-a-like competition at Sloppy Joe’s. More than 150 entrants try each year to win the contest and the town is overrun with Papa’s. It is an entertaining way to spend an afternoon; we were astounded at how serious these men take the contest.

George Murphy hosting the Papa contest.