take a bight

Sometimes I get my head so far up my work and worry,
I forget about all the cool stuff to do and see around Key West. (well, in my case, it's not so much worry - I've been up to the plate a few times so there aren't as many curve balls life can throw at me that I haven't seen before - but I have been known to work non-stop for weeks at a time)
Anyway, maybe that happens to you too.

It didn't happen as much when I was living a half block from the bight on William Street, it couldn't. . .
I'd hear Barry Cuda honky tonkin' on his piano at B.O's Fishwagon on Friday nights from my front porch; or saxman Marty Stonely (sorry, no website) on Sundays at Schooner Wharf jammin' reggae and calypso.
The music always drew me in and in the time it took to get to my feet, walk that half block singing the chorus of "Three Little Birds", I'd be there knowing. . .
"every little ting gonna be alright".

But now, living over here under the flight path on the cemetery side of town, it's a little different. The rousing sounds are the roar the jet engines passing overhead (but I don't get inspired to go to the airport) and when I finally do remember to get my dose of live music, it's an easy 15 minute walk; just enough time run "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" in my head while I take it.

What brought all this up for me was talking with a buddy who said that this "bullsh*t economy" had him working so much this past year that he hadn't been out on his boat for months and, did I see on T.V. Goldman Sachs this and
Obama Care that. . .

He raved on for a while and I wondered, privately, how a guy working so much made time for watching so much television.
"I'm telling you man", he continued "I'm so beat at the end of the days it's all I can do to crash in front of the tube with a brew at night." (. . .oh, that's how)

So I'm thinking, work all day everyday and then some at a job you don't like and worry that the ends still won't really meet and then let the 24 hour T.V. talking heads badger you 'til bedtime with crisis and chaos and an Afghan girl with her nose cut off.
That's a life you live, maybe, in New Jersey; but here?
In paradise?

So what's the fix?
I'm guessing the details are different for everyone and for sure, we all need to take care of business but the broad-stroke, at least for me is first, don't take it all so seriously (face it, in 100 years we'll all be dead), then relax and remember who you are and where you came from.
Make a list of the things that lighten your heart, bring peace to your mind and pleasure to your body.
Lay it all out on the table in front of you, your true ground of being, embrace it with all your love and take a bight.

candid cayo hueso

pet night at the bight

I dreamed I was a fly on the wall at homeland security. . .

"Hey!! Who's that guy hangin' out and drawing a crowd down at the bight?
He's wearin' a red suit, could be some kind of Communist!
And look at the long hair and his beard!
I bet he's some hippie throw-back protesting the wars!!

. . .And what's in that pipe he's smoking??"

"And look at this, he's got a helper!
Looks like she's recruiting some radical reindeer militia member!!
. . .and right under the navy's nose!!"

"We'd better raise the threat level from green to red and break out the water cannon!!!"

Oh No, No, No and Ho, Ho, Ho my paranoid patriots, it's "Just 4 Kids" Pet Pictures with Santa Night at the Bight. Just one of the many events that have been part of the "Bight Before Christmas" Celebration.
(I was a fly on the wall there too. . . a fotograpic fly)

There were doggie-dogs and kitty-cats and pets of all persuasions.
(Someone even brought their hamster.)

All those doggies!
The only thing more popular than Santa, was this tree.

the "bight" before christmas

A couple of weeks ago I volunteered to get a little involved with Key West's 5 week "Bight Before Christmas" festivities.

Now, I know what you're thinking and you're right; being "a little involved" is as contradictory as being "a little pregnant". But to the extent that I could help out designing the logo, putting some flyers together and getting the celebration some coverage in the Blue Paper, it's nowhere near as involved as Barb Wright and Tom Stroh, the event organizers, are in doing the all the leg-work and heavy lifting to bring so many events together.


Anyway, it's been a cool Christmas thing to do.

They've got everything going on from a tree lighting and shopping sprees to Christmas movies for your kids, Santa pictures with your pets and a live concert. Best of all, most of it's free so, when you're out and about, check it out.
Here's a link to the website and a full schedule of events. . .
The "Bight" Before Christmas

night moves

Community Clock, Duval & Southard

The Bight at Night, Key West Historic Seaport

San Carlos Institute, Overlooking Duval Street

Reflections, Key West Historic Seaport

Poop Deck, Key West Historic Seaport

The Bight Before Christmas, Key West Historic Seaport