The Katywompus Journal Observing Life's Little Quirks by Diane Moody |
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Entry #48: Postcards from Florida
About this time of year I start really missing Florida. With so many dear friends and family living down there and our daughter in Daytona for the summer, I'm feeling a bit homesick today. We were residents of Florida for over 14 years before moving to Tennessee. In fact, it was exactly 20 years ago that we moved to Naples, Florida. Fresh out of seminary in Texas, we headed for the promised land of the Sunshine State. Growing up land-locked, I always wanted to live near the ocean. The day we arrived, I asked Ken to drive straight to the beach before we went anywhere else. The sun was setting on the gulf in an explosion of pink and lavender and orange. I could hear the waves lapping against the shore, the unmistakable scent of salt water in the air. I couldn't wait to stick my toe in the water. Perhaps that's why so many people flock to Florida- for that continuous "sensory overload." The feel of sand between your toes. The warmth of a summer breeze against your skin. The cry of sea gulls against the backdrop of waves washing ashore in steady rhythm. The intoxicating scent of orange blossoms heavy in the morning air. The taste of sweet juicy oranges, tart grapefruit, and rich avocado! But when it comes to the senses, "the eyes have it" in Florida. Majestic lines of pelicans flying along the shore in perfect formation. Schools of dolphin swimming by in the distance. The temporary "galleries" of elaborate sand castles on the beach. Swaying tropical palm trees, the kind you see in vacation snapshots. And above all, those Florida sunsets. The most stunning are those painted on a backdrop of clouds, the colors intensifying just after the sun drops out of sight. But it's that (approximate) one minute between the time the sun touches the horizon until it disappears that I always found most fascinating - like liquid poured out from the blazing orb onto the surface of the ocean. Absolutely breathtaking. I would be remiss to paint too perfect a picture of America's favorite vacation destination. Florida definitely has its quirks. The first morning we woke up in Naples, I thought we were being bombed. At sunrise, a couple of roaring airplanes flew over just above the tree tops. Scared us to death! Turns out those planes were spraying for mosquitoes (known affectionately in Florida as the state bird.) Then there were the palmetto bugs - biggest roaches I've ever seen. They own the state of Florida. I'll never forget the first time I stepped on one in my bare feet first thing in the morning. (My skin is crawling just thinking about it!) Joe, our exterminator, was like a member of the family. Does that tell you anything? The weather is a phenomenon unto itself. How well I remember stocking up on batteries and bottled water, then taping our windows and bracing for the worst when hurricanes blew our way. Tornadoes are commonplace as well. My husband was at our church in Largo when it was hit several years ago. What a frightening experience that was. And for the record, Tampa is the lightning capital of the nation - and I'm not talking hockey here! Of course, everyone knows Florida is a haven for senior citizens. The warm climate and beneficial tax laws draw them like a magnet. Defensive driving is an Olympic sport there, as you might imagine. It's a common practice for seniors to cross three lanes of traffic at the last minute to make a turn. They think of parking lots like you and I think of bumper cars at the fair. Thus, the favorite bumper sticker among Florida seniors: "If you don't like the way I drive, get off the sidewalk!" But my favorite tale about senior citizens in Florida occurred on my first trip to the grocery store in Naples those 20 years ago. Driving down one of the main roads, I saw three elderly women riding bicycles down the street. These were full-size bicycles with training wheels for balance. Sitting atop those strange bikes were three geriatric grannies displaying their bronzed wrinkles beneath nothing more than itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny bikinis. I couldn't believe my eyes! But I've got to hand it to them - without a care in the world, they seemed to be having the time of their life. Oh, to be such free spirits! Alas, we moved to Tennessee - a move that was good for us, and evidently GREAT for Florida's professional sports. Since our departure, the Bucs won the Super Bowl, the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, and the Devil Rays are the hottest team in baseball over the last four weeks. Our exodus, their success. Go figure! Click HERE to send Diane an email. She welcomes your comments and suggestions. She's Flying the Coop Blessed are the poor... Back to School It All Started With Eve It's Almost Here! Forget About Weapons of Mass Destruction - let’s Talk Hormones The Other "W" "If only I could..." "Put Down That Remote and Step Away From the TV!" Take This Job and Love It! 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