Last full day in paradise

This T-shirt reminded me of someone.

Friday night in Corolla, NC.  North Banks was a good choice for

dinner.  We waited over an hour, but were prepared for it.  This

plate looks a bit messy, but the flavors were there.  Grilled Yellowfin

Tuna, rare, and served with mashed red potatoes, slaw, wasabi aioli,

ginger, and a sweet soy glaze.  Fresh is an understatement.

Dad was quiet and happy.

My wife always says if there is an afterlife, she's coming back as a

pelican in North Carolina.  I'm there with her.  Up and down the

beach they fly, all day long, in perfect formation, following the break

in the waves about a foot above the water.  Effortlessly, absolutely

mesmerizing.  Cameras can rarely ever do them justice.

This picture is no exception.

Looking north toward Corolla.  These beaches are never crowded,

 only attended by the renters of the houses that line the beaches.

If you park your car on the road next to the beach,  Cha-Ching!  

Looking south toward Duck.  Same parking rules apply.

She who keeps watch on the upper deck.  An overturned chair

prevents her from discovering the back stairway that leads all

the way down to the ground, where she could pursue her

trespassers and tear them to pieces.  If she wanted to.

The last supper.  Aforementioned braised oxtails with mezze penne

and their natural juices.  Yum.  A simple salad and pinot noir

completes dinner.  As many simple dinners as we had this week,

I had to make something that made my wife shake her head

and roll her eyes. 

The view from the front of the house. 

After the last supper, my wife and I went back to the beach

for probably the last time.  We tried to take pictures of the 

moon rise and me swimming in the dark, but to no avail.

We need a real camera for that.  Underwater, I could hear

the porpoises clicking loudly nearby, which made my

evening swim completely worthwhile.  It will take me

several days to get over my sadness and depression

about leaving this heaven on earth.