I begin Day 18 of my road trip (aka “my last big road trip) on Key West, and I realize how lucky I am to be having this experience as well as how privileged I am to have lived the life that I am recalling. As I previously mentioned I first came to Key West sometime in the late 1970’s with my college best friend Marty, and Marty’s dog Cody who was pregnant with a litter of puppies with my dog Dobie. I also came here many times on vacations with my family when I was married and when my children were young. Memories abound. ALL wonderful happy memories. At this time I am not only privileged to recall those happy memories but to be having/making a brand new happy experience.
The focus/excuse for this visit is my attendance at the Key West Literary Seminar. Two years ago I won the lottery that gave me the opportunity to register for the seminar. Then COVID caused a cancellation of last year’s seminar so my registration got rolled into this year. I have long wanted to attend the KWLS so it seemed a perfect opportunity to come back to Key West. Here I am.
It starts this evening with a keynote address by Lauren Groff and then what is apparently a big deal opening reception. I really don’t know what to expect other than iit will be a brand-new experience and I am looking forward to it. I had registered for this two years ago and found and reserved lodging a year ago… I was very pleased to discover this morning that my room is literally just around the corner from a lovely little dog beach which is coincidentally next door to one of my favorite restaurants on the island.
For breakfast I found a little cuban cafe where I had a colada (cuban espresso) with an egg and cheese and vegetable sandwhich. It was a little whole in the wall (delicious) and they welcomed Jerry inside while I ate .
