Summer Shenanigans

Three women, a few years

past middle age, play day-tripper

along the Embarcadero in Morro Bay,

stop often to browse

for such frivolous memorabilia

as a bulldog garden flag,

fairy rings, and rainbow plastic windmills.

They bypass the barker touting

The Flying Dutchman seafood café,

take photos of each other

sitting on the 25 cent kiddie seahorse ride,

avoid the store with the 15 kinds of fudge

in favor of filling buckets

at the Carousel salt water taffy store,

get totally daffy off the street party

atmosphere and sugar high.

Then they become serious for a moment,

feel sorry for the captive barking sea lion

in the tacky tourist aquarium

behind the tawdry souvenir shop,

consider the $10 bay cruise,

soon snicker and snort at the sign

by the House of Jerky that offers

chocolate bacon bars

and ass-kickin t-shirts.

Laura Bayless