St Augustine

It’s been a few weeks, but the joy hasn’t faded. My loves whisked me away for my birthday to the oldest city in the United States. When their original plan had to be cancelled due to the hurricane, I tried to talk them into just staying home. We love our home plus this didn’t feel like the right time to be celebrating. But this was a milestone birthday and they insisted. So after spinning our wheels trying to think of somewhere to go, we decided to drive 4 hours up the coast to St Augustine.

I’m not really into history, but this city intrigues even me. Forty-two years before Jamestown and fifty-five years before Plymouth Rock, the Spanish established St. Augustine. The streets and architecture reflect Spanish origins. In honor of the saint whose feast day fell on the day the land was first discovered, the settlement was given the name St. Augustine. Throughout history it served two purposes: a military outpost and a base for Catholic missionaries. You can tour both today.

This was our second visit so we were excited to relive some of our favorite memories. For Maurice, this included a stop at a popcorn shop which boasts of having 300 different recipes! We interacted with the friendliest employee (we love you, Tameka!) who allowed us to sample as many flavors as we wanted and introduced us to some of her favorites … bacon cheeseburger, Kentucky ribs, Old Bay crab legs, Mountain Dew, Rice Krispies, s’mores, Cinnabon, and more! We purchased 3 bags full and never looked back. Oh the memories.

We walked and talked along the brick streets closed to traffic, had a souvenir t-shirt hand pressed for my mom, and picked out books while chatting with the owner who built the bookshelves with her sister over 30 years ago! This particular weekend there was a songwriter’s festival so we got to enjoy live music at the outdoor amphitheater nestled by oak trees.

We splurged on a hotel directly on the beach. The stretch of sand at St. Augustine is very impressive. We could fly kites without coming close to anyone. We welcomed God’s mercies with lemon poppyseed bread at sunrise and gave thanks with a game of 20 questions around a bonfire after a sunset dinner. I came home with sand in my hair, a new turquoise leather purse, and a deeper understanding that there is a time and season for everything. Despite my hesitation, this was a time to build, to laugh, and to dance.

~ Diane xo