Florida, 2013

So it's already day seven of this vacation and I've only managed to write about it once.  It's just that we are way too busy having fun!  And I haven't even been to the beach yet.  I can't remember ever being in Florida for a whole week without being to the beach.  But it's just been too cold.  I'm not complaining though. I don't think I've seen this much sunshine since the last time I was here.

My cousin Dan has faithfully, per my request, convinced me to walk the bridge connecting Sarasota to Bird Key with him on a daily basis.  Or, if not the bridge, then a place called The Mound.  A very large "mound" of dirt, seeded with grass and set aside as a bird sanctuary.  From the top one can see for miles in all directions.  I'm counting on Dan to see that I arrive back home fit and weighing less than when I got here.  So far the odds aren't in his favor.  The calories I've taken in since my arrival defy description.

Two days ago we went to the famous Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Florida.  There we gorged ourselves on, what else, strawberry shortcake and strawberry-filled donuts.  With the unusual cold this past week and with a stiff breeze blowing we were all glad for whatever jackets and sweaters we had along.

Between eating episodes we checked out the many booths displaying a wide variety of things from whirlpool tubs to homemade jewelry.  There were also many entertainers to choose from.  Some, like the talented Mel Tillis were worth the time.  Others, well, this festival is as far up the ladder as they are likely to go.  But it's all good.  There's nothing better than rural America at it's finest.

Yesterday we joined the crowds in Pinecraft bidding farewell to folks returning to their homes in the chilly north after their time in the sun.  Pioneer Trails managed to make it look easy with four huge motor coaches leaving at the same time.  Many gathered to say good-bye or just to watch the fun.  The really big buses were parked side-by-side in a small church lot that I would never have thought big enough to hold them; the drivers pulled out smoothly without running over anyone.

Today we went to the Arcadia Rodeo.  This was my kind of entertainment.  Starting with six and seven-year-olds bareback riding on wooly little sheep and ending with the bull-riders who obviously have a death-wish.  There was barrel racing, steer-wrestling and of course the clown.  With a sold out crowd it was loud, fun, patriotic, and refreshing.  

When all the little kids were called into the arena a crowd of at least a hundred gathered.  Then some calves with bandanas tied to their tails were let loose amongst the children.  The object of this game?  Get the bandanas off the calves.  Well mayhem reigned, the kids had fun, the calves, not so much.  I found it a little sad that I was more impressed this is still allowed in this litigious society than I was with the actual game at hand.  And I couldn't help but wonder what unhappy individual would make it a thing of the past.

The best part of this week has been the time spent with family and friends.  I am blessed to have cousins that would make a shipwreck a fun time.  As long as we could manage to get to land in one piece of course.

Well, I must be off.  Paul had just made more strawberry shortcake which requires eating.

South 2013

We left around quarter past seven in the morning for our month-long Florida stay.  We’ve both been anticipating it for months. Our kids think we’re lucky.  I think we might be old.  Well, maybe both. The plan is to relax, rejuvenate, and ready ourselves for all the work ahead in the coming months.

I hear tell of people who never go on vacations and I must say I don’t know how they do it.  I would be a burnt-out little heap of ashes if I couldn’t get away from it all once in awhile.  This is not to imply that my everyday life is devoid of good things. But even nonstop busyness of the good variety can lead to exhaustion.  I mean, Jesus, Himself, needed a break now and then and I’m surely not as well equipped to handle stress as The Almighty.

So we were merrily sailing down the interstate and I did the usual “Oh dear I forgot to bring (fill in the blank)” every so often.  Not to worry, I didn’t forget anything I can’t live without.  My biggest concern is the grandchildren I had to leave behind in the frozen northlands.  The eight-year-olds I will miss incredibly but they’ll still know who I am when I get back.  How long are the memories of one-year-olds?  I tried to convince my children to put large photos of me on the ceiling above the babies’ cribs but they just looked at me like maybe I should head to a sanatorium instead of the beach.

Snow fell intermittently until half-way through West Virginia and we virtually giggled at the prospect of sunshine and warmth in our future.  There’s something that happens after four months of grayness, rain, ice, snow, and bone-chilling cold.  This winter was worse than most, at least in my humble opinion.  Every few weeks we’d get a day or two when the temperatures shot up to the fifties or sixties and the sun shone brightly.  Then, when you had almost convinced yourself that Ohio winters really aren’t that bad, things would deteriorate rapidly and the temps would plummet to freezing.  It was kind of like putting a steaming bowl of soup in front of a poor freezing soul and when he or she lifts the spoon with frozen fingers to take a bite it’s filled with chunks of ice.  Give me a steady pristine snowfall any day.

We split the driving and I mulled over the extreme danger of freeway travel during my turn.  It really is amazing we aren’t all killed.  Especially in those tunnels.  Sandwiched between big rigs.  Four lanes of heavy traffic, all treating the speed limits like silly suggestions, is, well, just crazy.  I debated how many miles over the limit I could set my cruise without heavy risk of delays and fines and off I went. And I discovered there are several things that really irritate me.  

·         People who drive in the far left lane with no thought for the impatient psycho breathing down their tailpipes.
·         People who brake for no reason while driving in the far left lane.
·         People who weave in and out of traffic from all sides with mere inches to spare front and back.
·         People who drive pick-up trucks with really large wheels and darkly tinted windows doing the aforementioned weaving.
·         People who tailgate when I am obviously blocked in on all sides.
·         People who stay in the far right lane when all left lanes are empty and other people are trying to merge.

I really think all driving tests should involve a one-hour stint on a major interchange during rush hour.  And to make it really interesting let’s make that in Atlanta or Chicago or St Louis or LA.  All survivors pass the test.

At least I had no trouble staying awake.  And my prayer life was thriving.  Between repenting for my comments toward the incompetent and pleading for protection from the incompetent. . .well I was busy.

Paul had his seat back as far as it would recline and was snoring softly, then he finally sat up and announced he hadn’t slept a wink.

When we reached the Carolinas we saw blue skies and fluffy white clouds.  And a little bit of green vegetation.  With all my whining about the dead, dull look of Ohio winters, let me hurry to add that part of what appeals to me about life in the north is the changing seasons.  How could I really, thoroughly appreciate springtime with leaves and flowers bursting forth once again if I had not endured the total lack of any signs of life for months on end?

We stopped for the night at a small town called Yemassee, SC.  Well, actually it was more like a spot beside the freeway with a few hotels.  But our hotel was clean and we staved off starvation with some fast food.  All in all, a good day.