Lunch and the melancholy and beautiful sound of "Taps"

I was the guest of Melba H-K for lunch at Marina Jacks today with her husband Carl, and Carl's caregiver Imani.

It was good to eat alfresco with nice views of the Marina and SRQ's famous dolphin fountain.


Sarasota Marina


Marina Jacks from Bayfront Park

Dolphin Sculpture

========================================================================
I ate the


Bunless “Bleu Cheese” Burger .................................................................................................Ten Ounce Certified Angus Ground Beef Patty Topped with Bleu Cheese and Sautéed Mushrooms, Served over our Marina Jack Harbor Salad. Seasonal Fresh Fruit (very little fruit on my salad!)

It was good, but as I often think about Marina Jacks food, it could have been better. Since MJ's has a near monopoly on bay front dining in SRQ maybe they do not have to try that hard.  

And I was in touch with my pet gripe! Why are portions in so many SRQ (and American restaurants in general) so huge!  It pains me to see so very much wastage as uneaten food is removed from the Tables.  I could not manage all of my salad!  It's time to launch a crusade for smaller portions.

The Britannia Dining Room on the Q.M. 2 Liner served four course dinners.  But each course was small enough to be so delicious that most plates were eaten clean.

Ooops! I was at Marina Jacks today, not on the QM 2.

All that having been said I am grateful to Melba for her gracious hospitality, and for the pleasure of good company for lunch.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


 As I walked back to my car I heard the clear and unmistakable sound of "Taps" I paused to listen.

I can only imagine that there was a Military ceremony somewhere in the Marina, prior to a burial at sea.

So lovely.  So heart-jerking. So solemn.

TAPS

https://youtu.be/Bfe4TxvUOiw

AND THERE IS THIS IN THE U.K. and other British Commonwealth Countries.


https://youtu.be/I2FKGwZ9oMs







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shoe insults

Last year I consulted with a local podiatrist: Dr. Robert F Herbold Jr. D.P.M. 4717 Swift Rd., Sarasota , FL – 34231  because I was being bothered with a couple of bunions  (yes I am at that age). I was very impressed with this Doctor.  He agreed that I had bunions, but he ventured that it was much too soon for surgery. (Now there’s a first). Instead he recommended some “arch supports” to relieve the tension for my feet, a tension which was exacerbating the bunions. What’s more -  he told me that he sells these arch supports at the miserly sum of $2.50 each (about 1/5 of the price in the local pharmacies). He is an honest man, and I recommend him to anyone with foot problems. So, a couple of weeks ago, having purchased some new walking shoes, I knew that I needed to buy a couple of new arch supports I took myself to his office. Once there, my mind went blank. I wanted to ask his front desk Clerk if I could buy some “shoe inserts” , as I could not remember the words “ar
Read more

The background, the couple, my friends, the wedding ceremony, the Shaykh, the Priest,

Image
The background   I have known the Keller/Bonsey family since 2000 when I became the Rector at St. James's, Cambridge, MA. They (Elisabeth Keller and the Revd. Steven Bonsey with their four children Noah, Sam, Josiah and Annie) had come back to Cambridge from Hawaii where Steve had been the Rector of an Episcopal parish. Steve had just been appointed as a Chaplain at Tufts University (no Sunday morning duties) so the entire family was able to enrich our common life at St. James's - which they did with great love and joy. I count them as friends and have stayed in touch with them since my retirement.  Noah, the oldest son is eloquent in Arabic (he spent a year in Damascus when Syria was a safe place).  He has developed a super career as an analyst of social media in the near East.    Noah worked in Tampa for a while a few years ago, so he and I were able to get together a few
Read more

It began in Bristol U.K. "A man dies" and "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Image
I well remember the swirling controversy in Bristol, U.K. when a (Presbyterian) Minister the Revd, Earnest Marviin created a ":Rock Opera", called "A Man Dies"  in and for his congregation in the Lockleaze area of Bristol, U.K. Earnest Mrvin I was a sixteen years old member of the Plymouth Brethren Church back in those days, so I most likely disapproved of "A Man Dies" .  We, (the Plymouth Brethren),  disapproved of everything! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had forgotten all about "A Man Dies" until earlier today when saw these pictures on the "Bristol, Then and Now"  Facebook page.   St. James Presbyterian Church, Lockleaze, Bristol  The Bristol Then and Now page includes the following commentary: Lockleaze, Bristol  -  'Jesus Christ Superstar' began at St.James (Presbyterian) Chur
Read more