I’d like to share a story with you.
The Backstory
When I got home from my vacation in August, I got sick my first night back. (Which I see as proof I should have stayed on vacation!)
It was more than just a cold and I stayed in bed for almost a full week.
A girl can only watch so much TV, so one day, in a bored sick stupor, I recalled and recorded one of my favorite vacation memories.
I had forgotten all about it until I found it in my notes yesterday and thought it might be fun to share with you.
I know I gave far too many details but it pulls you back to a leisurely pace to set the scene.
Summers in the sweltering south are a slower speed, and that’s how this story would be most enjoyed.
The Scene
We chose to stay in this particular house partly because of its big, beautiful Florida porches that wrap around the front and side of the home.
My bedroom gave access to the second level balcony. It offered a unique view of the streets below, and acoustically, sounds from all around, seemed to naturally travel there.
I could see and hear it all from that vantage point - sometimes too much.
Because of this, the second floor balcony became a surprisingly entertaining place to be.
To catch a shady breeze and escape the swampy Gulf Coast heat, I would venture onto the second floor balcony and would inevitably become distracted by the passers-by and their stories.
Snippets of conversations, bursts of laughter, and the feeling of freedom filled the air.
Young people.
Old people.
People on vacation.
It was living nostalgia.
I watched and heard:
a dad singing at the top of his lungs with his daughter, both giggling, while rolling through the stop sign below on scooters.
families of many generations walking together - some in more of quick sprint as children dragged their grown-ups to the beach.
fragments of a VERY lucrative business deal going down because business never stops for some, even on vacation. It sounded promising, though.
But it wasn’t all picturesque from up there.
I saw an (almost) fight break out between a few grown men over something about a truck. One guy was not backing down. A woman came and settled their tempers.
I was betting on the guy with the truck. He was too calm and didn’t seem one bit worried about throwing hands.
Always keep your eye on the calm ones.
An ambulance came to the house down the street and carried someone away.
I wondered what happened.
No one else from the busy home went in the ambulance to ride with the person. I wondered why no one seemed more concerned.
I said a prayer for them.
A few frustrated dads uttered choice words while carrying sleeping children and pulling wagons filled with beach chairs, while moms pulled along cranky kids who were over-stimulated, over-heated, and over-tired.
Ah…. vacations at the beach can be so far from relaxing!
The Story
It was getting late one night, and I could tell through the sheer curtains that there was lightning off in the distance.
We were expecting big storms that night, so I grabbed my phone to see if I could capture them on camera.
I walked out on the balcony, curled up in an oversized rocker (that I almost died in, but that’s another story!), and watched the palms sway in the breeze.
Soaking up the sounds, the street was still busy and noisy.
I love how Summer nights at the beach feel so alive.
Talking, music, laughter, horns blowing, someone yelling - it was a fun acoustic backdrop for the coming storms.
Just as I settled in, lightning flashed - close and loud.
Squeals of panic ensued as thunder quickly followed, abruptly ending a large party across the street.
Nearly everyone at the three story beach house ran inside, parents mildly panicked while the kids giggled and screamed.
The DJ packed his equipment and left just as a mom ushered a few reluctant teens inside and the door slammed for the final time.
Outside became the kind of quiet that made me realize just how loud their party had been.
I learned - from the generous second floor acoustics - that the house was packed with people celebrating a few top sales earners from Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. The industry and company weren’t apparent, but the winners and their families kicked-off their first night with a lively pool party.
Their DJ was on-point and I could hear clearly from the balcony as wild applause erupted for
David, Diana, Serge, Trevor, and Valerie
who were all being honored and rewarded for exceeding sales goals and helping their team earn district of the year.
I smiled. It reminded me of my days in sales.
It sounded like the manager, five sales associates, and their families were making the most of their wins, but that night’s sizzling summer pool party with a DJ went completely silent and still in the storm.
The streets cleared quickly and my attention went to the sky.
Fat raindrops began to fall and lightening sharply illuminated the sky.
I heard the sound of a large garbage can being rolled across the driveway of the party house.
Under the pattering of raindrops I could hear footsteps stop at the end of the driveway and the unfolding of a conversation.
This is what I heard a man say.
“Can you hear me? It’s raining here. I dont have long.
Ok good. .….
You’re going to have to follow these instructions perfectly and I’ll make it worth your while. Understand?”
Pause
Thunder and lightening pounded and loudly muffled his next words.
I waited curiously to hear more.
“But do not come to the door. Do you understand? You CANNOT come to the door. Turn the lights off before you get here, and don’t knock. Just leave it under the float on the front porch - under the pink flamingo float.
“Good. How long?”
I checked my phone. (Wouldn’t you?)
It was 10:43 pm..
By 10:45 pm the call ended, he went inside, and the door closed.
I didn’t mean to get invested in his conversation. The sound traveled up to that second story balcony like a tin can. It was all so clear, it was hard to ignore.
I stayed outside to enjoy the storm and, I admit, to abate my curiosity.
Over the next twenty minutes, I heard the front door of that house open twice before quickly and quietly closing again.
The front porch lights stayed off.
The first time, the man placed something under the float and quickly returned inside.
The second time, he peeked under the pink flamingo float for the package he was expecting, but it clearly had not arrived.
At 11:20 pm, I heard footsteps outside in the storm. He was standing back near the trash can he rolled out previously.
He sounded impatient on the phone.
An insistent
“How much longer?”
preceded a brief exchange before the door closed again.
By now, the storm was passing and I was getting tired. At this point, my curiosity was the only thing keeping me out there.
Just as I started to go inside, a car rolled past the house with no lights on.
(How could I leave now?)
I watched as it rolled quietly through the stop sign, and came to an easy stop on the curb behind the party house.
No lights. Barely a sound.
I waited.
Finally, the door opened and someone slipped quietly out of the car.
It was still raining and it seemed like the figure tucked a package into their shirt to protect it from the elements.
A dog barked across the street.
The deliverer jumped and froze - clearly startled. They waited to see if the dog would continue but someone called it inside.
The driver ran to the porch in stealth mode and made an exchange in the darkness.
Something was clearly taken from under the pink flamingo and something was clearly left behind.
I waited to see the driver get back into the car, but it never happened.
The ninja-style delivery person walked to the stop sign on the corner.
Another car pulled up.
No lights.
Ninja hopped into the passenger seat.
Get away car quietly rolled out of the scene.
I was left confused.
I was expecting a pizza or a drug deal, not a drive and drop-off.
Within the minute, the front door to the house opened again.
The man slipped out quietly, lifted the pink flamingo, grabbed what appeared to be an envelope, and went back inside with barely a sound.
Now I had more questions than I wanted…
… and no way to get answers.
I closed up my impromptu stakeout and went to bed wondering what that was all about.
The next morning, too early, I heard honking outside.
It was annoying honking - like a child knowingly frustrating a parent.
I walked out on the balcony to check on the ongoing commotion.
Of course it was coming from the party house.
I remembered last night.
Just then, a woman stormed out the garage of the house like she was larger than life - like she was coming to deliver a swift punishment.
The honking was clearly irritating her too, and she was coming to do something about it!
Still in her pajamas and with unkempt hair, she darted across the lawn, turned the corner, and opened her mouth to yell, but instead, the most delightful squeal emerge from her mouth!
Then everything went silent.
Frustrated, I was blocked by trees and could not see what she was seeing
I quietly made my way to the other side of the balcony out of sheer nosiness only to see a brand new car with a big red bow and a sign that said:
“You deserve this - and so much more - Diana!”
Diana was standing in the middle of the lawn looking like her most real self.
Smiling from ear to ear.
Sobbing out of sheer joy.
In total surprise.
How fun is this?!?!
Suddenly everything made sense.
In the passenger seat, tooting the horn , also out of sheer joy, was her love - probably her husband - and he looked so proud of his gift.
His smile, bigger than hers.
It was a tender moment.
As he got out of the car to give her a big hug,
I recognized his voice.
“I was going to surprise you last night after the party but the storm changed my plans.”
“I can’t believe you did this!” She was jumping up and down like a little girl but I suspect she was in her 50’s.
I watched as she hopped in the drivers seat. They took a short drive around the block, her still in pj’s - both cheesing so hard their teeth were showing.
As they drove past, I could clearly see the oversized pink flamingo float on the porch, and it made me smile, too.
I’m grateful I witnessed that surprise, and I’m happy I could share it with you.
Reliving it was a fun reminder that:
a little bit of mystery is exciting,
something incredibly annoying might be a gift, and
seeing others in a deep state of joy is so deeply nourishing for the soul.
Every time I see a pink flamingo now, I smile.
They’re my little reminder that life is full of joy and surprises when you have the right people in your life!
May you always feel as loved and celebrated as Diana did on her summer vacation down in Florida.
🏝️
I finished writing the article and placed all the images when my son asked if I would like to watch a show together.
You can imagine how I squealed at the pink flamingo float in the opening scene!
What are the chances?
