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
Peace, God's agape love, abundant blessings,
John Michael
Ron