Sanibel Island Went Out to Sea(c)2022

by Dee-Dee Diamond

Once upon a time this scene was…

Arthur and I were having lunch on Sanibel Island 2005.

My eyes were drawn to a small, framed pastel of young lovers…on the beach. It grabbed my eye as it faced me on the wall of the rustic seafood cafe.

Story here?

Just the facts ala Jack Webb’s Sargent Friday.

1 Arthur was still alive, and healthy.

2 We were visiting our married daughter, Lisa in Lakeland. Nearby.

3 In our rented car…we went exploring.

4 We knew the East Coast of Florida.

5 The West Coast was new for us.

6 Sanibel Island had a reputation of beautiful beaches, casual restaurants, & elegant hotels.

7 It was thus on our “must visit list” as it was bitter cold back home in NYC.

8 Some folks recommended we try this laid-back old time joint for lunch.

9 I was chumping on my fried fish platter when I got stuck on a painting, one of many that decorated the place, that were “tagged for sale”.

10 It was serendipitous…as I didn’t plan to look for, nor buy a piece of art.

11 Ridiculous I never entertained buying a painting on the wall of a beach joint.

12 Local artists, it seems hung their “masterpieces” to maybe grab a sale from tourists.

12 It was a win-win mutual bargain. The joint got some much-needed ambiance & the struggling beachcomber got cash.

13 Along comes my husband & I, we pay the tab on it $100.00. We give it to our daughter, and then husband Craig. Arthur even hangs it up high on a wall in their house. They love it.

Today après Hurricane Ian…

14 Sanibel Island, My Arthur, Lisa’s Craig, are gone…

ONLY the pastel of “The Kissing Lovers of the Beach”, still remains.