By Caron Schwartz
By 10:45 today I had had enough. I had just spent another hour and a half at a bank trying again to get power of attorney over my parents’ accounts. The quarantine has been hard on everybody, but trying to accomplish anything regarding elderly parents has been particularly trying.
I have spent too much time on phone calls and waits on hold plus two lengthy visits to the only open branch of their bank trying to prove, with extensive documentation, that I’m who I say I am and mom and dad say it’s OK for me to act on their behalf.
Today, success! But 90 minutes of hair-pulling had left me in desperate need of a caffeine infusion. With so many places on various degrees of lockdown, I figured that would have to wait until I finished my errands and got home.
As I drove up 4th St. N. I thought I saw a table outside Southern Bay Bakery, the charming cafe adjacent to Sunken Gardens. Could it be? I drove around the block to make sure. No mirage!
I opened the door as the aroma of freshly baked treats wafted my way. With no other customers and two folks behind the counter (which has a massive sneezeguard) I felt confident to remove my mask.
And here I am, stretched out on a comfy couch, an espresso and almond horn by my side. It feels … almost normal. A family with a flirtatious toddler comes in for takeout, so I enjoy a tad of eavesdropping.
It’s just me and my laptop enjoying feet up at a fine St. Pete establishment. Alone, but in public. Real life – almost – at last!
Southern Bay Bakery, 1961 4th St. N, St. Petersburg
Call for hours: 727-440-8988