The Florida Interlude - Friends and Seafood

Every year we look forward to our vacation exchange with Martha and Jim Fallis in Clearwater. Here's how it works.... we spend 3 to 4 weeks with them, either in Clearwater in the winter, or in Toronto in the spring; they spend 3 to 4 weeks in Montona in the summer. This year we sandwiched our Montana winter trip between weeks in Clearwater.

So, following my drive back to Tennessee from Montana (see previous post), I flew back to Clearwater just in time for Valentine's day. Joining us for a Valentine's dinner was a classmate from medical school days in Memphis. Wayne Ritt, who retired recently, was in Sarasota (just down the road) visiting family, and on his way back to Tennessee. I don't think we had seen Wayne since the 30 yr reunion 9 years ago, which was the first time we had seen him in 30 years.

Jim and Butch had planned a wonderful meal - filet mignon and Gulf shrimp - yummm!!! Oh, yes, and Florida key lime pie! There was much toasting, picture taking, and lots of catching up on almost 40 years of our lives. We stayed up way too late, drank way too much wine, and had an outlandishly good evening.

Jim has become famous for his annual seafood dinner - we look forward to the great Florida seafood every year, and (for me) the fresh strawberries from Plant City. The best seafood in Pinellas County comes from Wards Seafood Market and it is located only minutes from Martha and Jim's home. This was a Ward's seafood feast - crab legs, scallops, shrimp, and a fresh Maine lobster. Martha had given Jim a very special bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne for Christmas, and they chose to share it with us. Heavenly.

Speaking of heaven, I think heaven must not be any better than this. Let's just say, if there's no champagne, fresh seafood and strawberries in heaven, I don't wanna go.

Our next vacation exchange with Martha and Jim is in May in Toronto just in time for the bird migration. I'm already studying the warbler section of my field guide to birds!