Sharon’s words: Emerald, Heaven & Ocean

Sharon and her parents normally met somewhere near the Florida Keys for their annual vacation. This year however, their furloughs coincided with spring break. It was quickly determined to stay clear of the college kids and all the hoopla that went along with them.

Mom and pop fell back on their usual pattern of thought and asked Sharon if she would make all the arrangements. Of course she said, “I’ll take care of it.” She settled on a Gulf Coast destination instead of the OCEAN. Partly because she found a cozy little place close to ‘Fort Walton Beach, FL.’, and also because it was a quaint little strip of the EMERALD Coast.

Sharon’s dad, Bob, relished using water for fishing. What he really appreciated though, was the rest he got once he settled into the right spot. Her mom, Mary, loved water and the beach. She liked the sun and sand, which always meant sunburn and sand everywhere.

Within an hour of checking into their room, her and Mary were on a somewhat secluded area of the nearest beach. It boasted a blueish green water, that smoothly splashed along the shore line. The water was so clear, you could walk several hundred feet into the Gulf and still see your feet wiggle in the sand. It was beyond paradise, it was Glory.

Bob wasn’t impressed with the Gulf Coast, because he had a different setting in mind. Two rods, tackle box and a rental truck put him north bound for the pan handle lakes.

After a dozen miles or so, he found it. A peaceful little spot of sand on the south side, of the second lake he came to. It had wooded areas to the left and right with small walking paths in each direction.

He stood on the warm dry sand in his flip flops with his tackle box in his left hand and fishing rods in his right, gazing across the calm water. He was searching for the spot, the perfect spot, the only spot. So he took his time, closed his eyes, gulped down several deep breaths and began to search with his ears.

Without opening his eyes he turned to his right and took a half a dozen steps or so before he opened them. There it was, the long large tree laying on sand and leaves ten feet from the water. The spot was under an umbrella of Palm and Cypress trees and chock-full of an ample mix of flora. It was perfect, he didn’t need to search anymore, and it didn’t matter if he caught a fish – it was HEAVEN.