TO KNOW ME IS TO LOVE ME

     I left work a little earlier than normal, I felt as though a day like this couldn’t be wasted by being indoors any longer.  Just when I was thinking I’d go off to Pisellino alone and have one or two drinks, G sent me a message of longing and we planned a casual run in.       Pisellino these days had become, even in the earlier hours of the night, a fussy amalgamation of trendy-spot-goers which, more often than not, was cause to briefly abandon a spot I’d usually frequent. However today, luck was on my side. The flirty server M and I had encountered about a week ago while having an after-work drink, got me settled outside at the very front of the cafe facing Grove Street. A more ideal seat couldn’t have been asked for.      Having already downed a French 75 while waiting for a table at the bar, I was now slowly sipping on a gin and tonic with extra lime in an attempt to moderate myself while waiting for G to arrive.   ...

  01/16/25      Slowly moving, sailing in water so still I had forgotten we were in the ocean. The horizon unbroken by land was so straight. It felt unreal to see endless blue over the bow. In the far distance, we spotted the tall cross-like shapes of an enormous boat’s masts. Through binoculars, I observed a modern rendition of a full-rigged ship. It appeared on the horizon in such a ghostly manner. Our slow pace had made the world strange.      We’ve gone 20 miles up the west side of Guadeloupe in pursuit of fuel and water and later a bay to stay in. This voyage would shave a few hours off our trek back to Antigua come morning.      We docked in a tiny port and after failing to understand french the gas pump, R went ashore to speak with the gas station attendant and we tied up. In the murky water below huge ominous-looking fish swam back and forth.  A swarm of french fishermen who had been observing us from the dock yard began add...