never sat anywhere else, and if that booth perhaps we just perceive it to be the greatest was full we waited until whoever was in it to because we experienced so much there. leave. The booth was perfect because it was practically closed off “Like a museum, the atmosphere was from the entire restaurantfrozen in time; we were the only ones Driving on Mcitself, and we could say Intosh at night that seem to grow and change. Every whatever we wanted and always calmed not feel judged because time we went there we created an experi-me down. It’s the our voices never escaped ence that was unique; the restaurant was road my neighthe perimeter. In that the constant and we were the variables.” borhood is next circle I’ve had some of to but it takes me the best laughs. The best part is we n ever to some of my favorite places in Sarasota. left hungry; we ate until we felt like throwWhenever I got angry or upset I would drive ing up. Dino’s was our safe haven; a place on that road. The reflectors on the street to escape to on the weekends. And yet, always seemed to explode outwards when every time we went there the only thing that I turned my brights on, taking me to some changed was us. It always started out the new place I’ve never seen before. With each same: Tabitha, our waiter, asking if we want- turn and fork in the road, letting my hands ed refills too early, and Greg, Joey’s cousin, make the decisions, striving to be as loose as at the cash register complaining about how the wind that poured through my windows. his dad works him too hard, John in the back Moving forward as the trees and houses flew flipping pizzas, yelling at Joey for never by; drifting past spots where I used to hang paying. Like a museum, the atmosphere was out when I was younger. My friends and I frozen in time; we were the only ones that listening but not talking, my CD’s turned up, seem to grow and change. Every time we spewing out lyrics that I felt entwined to. went there we created an experience that was unique; the restaurant was the constant and we were the variables. Yet, after a while My feet blister on the we stopped going, each of steaming cement, I forgot us getting more and more my sandals again. I step busy on the weekends. By out to the commotion of the time we were seniors people loading and unloadall of us had jobs and ing, like ants scavenging most of us had girlfriends. for their queen: the sun. Although I haven’t been “God I hate these tourists”, there in a while, it is still Joey looks over struggling to carry an ugly one of the greatest places in Sarasota, or
Hawaiian beach chair and a backpack with only one strap. “Why the hell don’t they give parking to people who actually live here?” I shut Joey’s beater car door with a kick. I look closely at the 96’ Camry, the paint ripped off and the tires sagging, worn down by time and usage. “Dude you really need to get a new car, how the hell are you going to drive to college with this piece of shit?” He chuckles, “That’s what I’m saying man, my parents keep telling me that they’ll get me a new car, but that I’m going to have to pay for…” his voice trailing off as I look towards the pavilion, watching a pack of flawless girls frolic their way towards the beach, skipping up onto the sand to escape the heat of the blacktop. Coming back from the Siesta was always a unique experience. We never returned the same as we came. Covered in sand and salt water, we would stop at a 7-11 or a McDonalds, always finding some place new to see. Never truly caring where or when, it was summer and we had no restrictions. Some days we would go back to my house or a friend’s house and swim, sometimes we’d drink, sometimes we’d smoke, but without a worry in the world we always seemed to have a good time. “I was within and without. Simul-