California is not my cup of tea

It's all about the weather. And if that's all you care about then California is the place you want to be. To me, it is one big parking lot. Having grown up in Florida, the scenery is quite the same, but in Florida there are no mountains and excessive humidity. We have visited many cities in California over the last thirty years, but this time it has definitely lost its' luster. I am anxious to get back to the old east coast with all the grit about it. In the meantime we are spending the last day outside taking in the lovely weather and observing the potential hurricane making way in the Atlantic Ocean. It feels like the other side of the world here - and it is! 

 

Florida in December - And Memories

It's been warm everywhere, and even warmer in Florida. I grew up in Florida and do not recall a Christmas like this. We took a ride after dinner to the beach. It was 85 degrees. It was hard to distinguish the holiday decorations from the usual surroundings. It really is a different vibe and culture here. Whenever we think about maybe moving back after I retire, it seems less likely every time we visit. Since my Dad died six months ago there are a lot of reminders and memories. My mom is doing okay, but it's difficult. We always used to come home at the beginning of December. But this year was different - in a big way. The surroundings look the same, but somehow I feel different. 

Sights and Sounds of Florida

We are spending our last day in Florida. We're visiting with my parents who are both in their 90's. Since August we have been dealing with health and elder care issues, and running errands to find out what can and cannot be done. Everyone goes through it. It was hardly a vacation. But on this last day, I wanted to capture all the things that I remember growing up here as a youngster. There is plenty of blue sky, sunshine, and water. We only saw the Tampa Bay side this time. We just didn't get out to the Gulf. Palm trees are everywhere, hibiscus populate just about every garden, Tropicana Field is home to the Rays baseball team... Did I mention the boats? Christmas time was always a little strange, but there are lots of decorations. The food portions are huge and cheap. Due to our house configuration, my husband stays at the Watergarden Inn At the Bay. This must be at least the fifth or sixth time. Bill and Wilder are the most charming hosts, but my husband is a very unique guest. Not every house has it's own orange tree and the streets are wide and straight. These are the things I miss the most when we are back in DC. I think the older one gets the more appealing it becomes. I just wish I knew it then.