For the first time this week, I slept reasonably well last night.  I got up early and drove over to Seaside for a cup of coffee at Ama Vida, my old-time go to coffee spot.  Folks sleep later over here and there's little traffic outside in the large common area in between all of the shops and restaurants.  I suspect that will change in the next hour, though.  It's nice, for now, to be the only person in Ama Vida, as I sip my coffee and read the New York Times on my laptop.  

Joe and I went for a 3-mile run late yesterday afternoon on the Longleaf Trail, maybe my favorite spot to run in the world.  Certainly, it's my favorite out of town running route.  I don't think I've ever run the Longleaf trail in the late afternoon or early evening.  It had a different feel.  A nice one, actually.  It was great to get out and run with Joe.  My opportunities to run with JP are fewer and far between, as when he runs, he's training seriously.  Every run for him matters, since he's trying to squeeze in enough training to maintain a relative amount of fitness for the school track meets he's able to fit in between baseball practices and games.  I had hoped to get in a three man run with both of the boys this week but I don't think that's going to happen.

It's a little like the running version of Harry Chapin's folk son, Cats in the Cradle, when I think about it.  While it makes me a little sad not to run as much with JP, I totally get it.  It's impressive to see him get up early every morning on vacation and go for a run or a running workout.  He's dedicated and I very much admire that about him.

Last night, we drove the golf cart down to Shunk's Gulley for dinner ant to watch the Boston - Oklahoma City NBA game.  I talked our way into a table upstairs in the bar, so we could watch a multitude of games on the televisions.  The boys and I were in basketball watching heaven.  Conference tournaments.  NBA.  Perfect for a Wednesday night in Santa Rosa Beach for Spring Break.

After dinner, Jude and JP walked the half mile home to our house in Old Florida Village.  Joe and I drove home in the golf cart, arriving just as they did.  We watched the second half of the Boston - Oklahoma City game - a great game, actually.  OKC won.  Maybe a preview of the NBA finals.  Next, we finished watching Ant-Man, an MCU (Marvel Comics Universe) movie starring Paul Rudd.  Joe loved it, as he does all of the MCU movies we're working our way through in order.  According to Joe, we have one more movie to go - the second Thor movie - and we'll be on to the second group of MCU movies.  It's all a bit confusing but I love the fact that Joe is so into the MCU.

For once, I was able to limit my contact with the office yesterday.  No forest fires to be put out, small or large.  Or, at least none of which I was aware.  I hope it stays that way today.  

We have a couple more days left here, at the beach.  I want to savor them if I can.  As Joe mentioned to me yesterday, next Spring Break we might be visiting colleges with JP.  That, of course, was something that hadn't even crossed my mind.  

It's strange, in a way, to return to a place for vacation that we've been coming to since the boys were toddlers.  There are a lot of good memories for us here to be sure.  Someday, probably after the boys are out of high school, I want to come down here and stay for a month, just to see what that's like.

For now, as Ama Vida begins to fill up with teenage girls getting pastries and adults desperate for their morning coffee, I'm going to head back to Santa Rosa Beach.

Joe, after our 3-mile run on the Longleaf Trail yesterday.

My boys.