The Lighthouse We Didn't Climb

We set out around 3pm on a beautiful sunny afternoon, headed for Anastasia Island to finally see the lighthouse and maritime museum. Great drive down — until we got near St. Augustine and watched rain building on the horizon, coming right at us.

We pushed on anyway. Paid for our tickets, walked through the keeper’s house — artifacts and history running from the 1700s through the Coast Guard era and the eventual shuttering of the lighthouses. Then thunder and lightning shut down the climb. The one thing we’d actually come for. Disappointed, yeah — but the staff handed us a rain check to come back free, no hard feelings.

Rain started as we crossed the Bridge of Lions back into Old Town. We ducked into Tini Martini Bar — a favorite since our first trip here in 2019 — and sipped craft martinis on the veranda, watching boats on the intracoastal while the rain came down. No agenda. Just chatting and watching the world go past our table.

Then one umbrella, two of us, over to The Milltop Tavern for live music. Rainy Thursday, so it was basically empty — us, one other couple, and a duo setting up their gear upstairs. Craft beer, nachos, wings, music, and the rain really letting loose outside.

Was this the day we planned when we left the house? Hard no. Would we have bailed at the first hint of weather, another time? Probably. But we pushed through and let the day be whatever it was going to be — and it turned out great.

The moments aren’t always what you’d wish for. That’s what I call Living Bodhi. It was perfect.