Returning To Stuart Beach

I stopped by Stuart Beach yesterday afternoon just to make sure it was still there, and - get ready for it - it was. The last time I was here, during the summer, there were rip tide warnings and the red flag was flying over the lifeguard station, indicating dangerous conditions. And yesterday, there were rip tide warnings and the red flag was flying over the lifeguard station. Same old same old. But one thing that was different were the tables at the Seaside Cafe. They were new, and where once the three high-topped tables and chairs at the far side of the seating area were located, allowing a person to sit and look out at the ocean, there was now a single large table with 8 chairs and no view of the ocean at all.

And in point of fact, it took me a long time to get used to the Seaside Cafe and all those tables in the first place. Back when I used to visit my mother Mary down in Stuart, we would go to the beach and there were a series of covered shelters, connected by a boardwalk, with benches that allowed you to sit, read a newspaper, and look out at the sea. You didn't have to hold your breath and hope that one of those three tables was still available when you arrived. And, of course, it is all about money. Martin County Parks and Recreation needed another revenue source. They decided not to renew the lease for the cafe next to the parking lot and instead built the Seaside Cafe right on the boardwalk where those shelters with the benches used to be. Welcome to our new improved world. In any case, the photograph on the right shows my mother posing in front of one of those benches back in the good old days. But, on the bright side, at least the sand is still there at Stuart Beach. At least for now.