EDITOR’S
LETTER
Most of us who spend time or live on Gasparilla Island have the
rhythm of the water in our soul. It affects how we think, how
we live our lives, and how we go about our daily routine. Isn‘t it
funny how we forget the tranquility that comes with being at the beach
when we’re not there ... especially when we haven’t been there for quite
a while? Sometimes life passes you by quickly, and even though it’s steps
away you can forget the beach is even there. How long has it been since
your last visit to the shore?
There are pros and cons to living in such a beautiful place. If you’re like me, you see many of life‘s
important events through a viewfinder; it’s hard to put emotion into the equation. You’re too busy trying
to get the right angle, the right light ... and you don’t realize until after the fact what you’ve just witnessed.
There are many of us who are modern-day bards – we have the desperate need to tell the
tale, whether it’s in words or photos.
In today’s age almost everyone has a decent camera on their phone, so more and more people find
themselves becoming “the bard” instead of just experiencing life as it comes.
Summer is a perfect time to slow down the pace and look at your surroundings through fresh eyes.
The flowers, the storms, the vibrant green of the world around us just pops during these summer
months. Take some time to revel in it, to savor it with all of your senses ... to love where you live.
Be kind to yourselves, and to each other, please. It makes life so much better.
Marcy Shortuse
Editor-in-Chief
14 GASPARILLA ISLAND July/August 2019