Earthy Habitat

I was offered a tip from KC that Earthy Habitat was having a grand opening and there were going to be belly dancers! I couldn’t pass up an offer like that. The store had just moved 3 weeks ago from it Thornton Avenue address right next to Dandelion Communitea Cafe. The store is now located at 990 North 434 in Altamonte Springs. I had some trouble finding the place since strip malls and stores in Florida don’t do a great job of displaying the street numbers. I have a GPS and with trial and error I finally did find the store just when I was ready to give up and head home.
It was pouring rain when I arrived. I ran toward the store and ducked under the store front overhang. As soon as I shook out my umbrella a young woman approached me and told me I could have any item on the outdoor table for free. I chose a hand woven green bracelet that I think my wife Terry will love. Earthy Habitat offers hand crafted jewelry from around the world. Items can be found from Africa, Tibet, India, Ecuador among other places. Gloria Beharry and Sandra Burgos are the owners. Sandra has many of her own paintings decorating the store walls. KC’s daughter is working in the store for the summer. So the whole family was out to see the opening. KC introduced me to Bob who is the love of her life and looks just like Ernest Hemingway. I then met KC’s youngest daughter Liz who at first seemed a bit unhappy to have to sit through the event but she later livened up and turned out to have a fun sense of humor. Kit was busy talking to clients and selling like a pro. She never stopped working the room.
The 3 belly dancers arrived late. They are called the Magi Dance Troupe and they were amazing. Their arms moved like snakes and they had perfect balance which was demonstrated when the lead dancer, Melanie LaJoie, balanced a flaming candle in a bowl on her head and began to dance. This dance actually made me a bit nervous, I immediately imagined the bowl falling and igniting the carpet and people screaming as they ran towards the exits. I suppressed those thoughts, quieted my nerves and finished the sketch.