Thursday, July 23, 2009

PADDLING ON MAIN STREET - July 23rd 2009


Leo is, for the first time, actually talking about retiring at the end of next year!

Starbucks Bridgehampton is experiencing a high turnover of staff. Why?

The Bridgehampton Presbyterian Church has been struck by lightning – again! Why?

A new tapas restaurant, Copa, has opened in School Street. Must try – after Labor Day, of course!

(Overheard outside Starbucks. Man to woman.) “If this relationship is going to work you’ll have to do something about your teeth and nose.”

(Overheard inside Starbucks. Woman to man.)
“Hon, try to look less Italian.”

(Woman on cell phone outside De Petris wine store.) “Would you like me to be somewhere I am not?”

And finally, for now…

(Overheard in Citarella this morning.) Is this coffee organic? If I drink it, and it’s not, my masseuse will be able to tell.”

Friday, July 10, 2009

LOOKING WEST!

I am aware that this column has not been updated in a while, but I am spending far too much time reading reports, commentaries and (excellent) blogs from the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, Anaheim, California. Normal service will be resumed ....

Thursday, July 2, 2009

LIFE MAY BE A BEACH, BUT A BEACH IS NOT LIFE!


Observations on Georgica Beach after yesterday's paddle the full length of the pond. I was in the M14, and pulling the boat up on the "gut" (the strip of sand that separates the pond from the ocean) I opened a bottle of water and ate a delicious pasta salad that was left over from the previous evening - a dish of pasta, chicken and gorgonzola. My daughter's wonderful creation!

I then simply relaxed on the beach, pondering the possibility of paddling along the Cove to the east. And started "people watching." It was priceless!

1. A group of four young twenty-somethings who passed in front of of me. One pleasantly greeted me, and I him. And another said, "I can't believe someone could just sit on the sand like that. So dirty."

2. Two women of "indeterminate age" (and how often have i used that phrase?) walking to and fro, both wearing flowing, technicolor beach shrouds. I couldn't make out the conversation, but one, the one in salmon pink, kept on insisting to her companion: "But Cape Cod is too out there! How will I be recognized? I won't go anywhere where I'm not important!"

3. I was rueing the fact that there was no pasta left when a couple deliberately approached me, and the man simply said, "Hi! Nice boat!" Now there is nothing more demoralizing than the sudden realization that these good people were drawn by my kayak, and not by me. I can totally understand. The M14 is a very serious boat. Long, sleek, professionally designed and equipped for open water, someone once reviewed it as "sexy." Unlike its owner in this particular encounter, staring out at a boat on the Atlantic, and probably having traces of gorgonzola on his chin. "Thanks!" Was all I could say, and they both touched the boat, almost religiously, and left, hopefully satisfied. I shook my head, and wiped my chin - just in case.