road trip

Well, here we are almost July. Winter finally freed it's stranglehold and everywhere is green, green, and more green. The sun is warm and the air smells like the Linden trees that line my hometown streets, sweet and intoxicating. Hello summer. Life has settled into it's summer groove. Lazy mornings with my coffee in bed, afternoons at the pool or work, and any opportunity taken to jump on my paddle board and hit the lake. June started in a wave of sadness as a few of my friends suffered some of life's challenges. Happy to not be crying or sad I figured some light reading was on the agenda for you faithful followers. As it so often happens, opportunity knocked during one of those times and my best friend and I found ourselves spontaneously en route to Florida to see our friend. Funny thing about spontaneity, when you're younger it's easy to drop everything and just go. As you get older and kids, spouses, and jobs come into play, it's more difficult to fly like the wind. Well, fly we did, er drive I mean. After an anxiety driven week, we dropped our children with their grammies, left the men to their work and hit the road Thelma and Louise style, you know minus the guns and cliff dive. It had been a very long time since my friend and I traveled together and two very big personalities on an 18 hour drive could be difficult. Could be, but it wasn't. We were champs! Driving and singing and car dancing and a very impromptu stop in Savannah, Georgia did our souls the world of good. Stops for junk food, coffee, smokes and one very off the beaten path gas station saw roads less traveled. After the final few harrowing hours on Florida's fine I75 which left my knuckles in a white death grip, we arrived at our destination and were welcomed with ice cold slushy margaritas and many hugs and kisses. Passing out by 11 we were up early the next morning chasing nature. Determined to get one Florida paddle board excursion in while we were there, we drove an hour and a half north to partake in a paddle ecotour which had us paddling with manatees(well, one), dolphins(one again), and one large know-it-all jackass who promptly ran his kayak into the mangroves leaving his large mass flailing in the water. Sometimes karma is so beautiful. After paddling, lunch,and a long swim in the Gulf, we met new friends for drinks at the marina then home to our friend. Pina coladas and sunburn on the beach the next day. Rainy Tuesday spent reading, talking, and watching the ibis parade across the yards searching for snails. Drunken, rainy boat ride complete with many dolphins on Wednesday and more beach, shopping, and sightseeing on Thursday. Ending our week with a sushi feast, we were relaxed and ready to come home. After dispensing of the critters camped in my open suitcase, we were packed to go. Trying not to cry, we said goodbye to our sleepy friend, waved at our little mango house and hit the road. After a little adjustment time it was right back to work, jumping in with both feet. Now as I sit on my porch writing I am dreaming of our trip all over again. Florida sits in my soul like a gift waiting to be unwrapped. I dream of the palm trees, the dock on the canal where I drank my coffee every morning, the beach. I miss the Florida smells, the food, the wildlife, but most of all I miss my friend. I hope to make it down again next year, showing my little man all the Sunshine State has to offer. For now, I am happy in the Cle because it is summer and we don't grow our bugs that big. Good morning world.