Florida Sunshine

After hours on the plane and in airports on Saturday, Mom and I arrived in Fort Meyers, Florida to a balmy 70 degrees, even at midnight. Aunt Cathy picked us up from the airport and drove us to her condo in Naples. Her decor was beautiful and felt very tropical. She definitely has an eye for color.
We were greeted by her black kitty Booker, but shy Tuffy stayed hidden until the following day. Booker loved the mouse Mom had made for him, and his energy reminded me how old Shadow is getting (she'll be fifteen this fall).
Cathy was a great hostess and we ate well, starting with a bowl of creamy blueberry ice cream at 1 a.m. the night we arrived. We spent our days enjoying the beach, shopping at thrift stores and malls, and relaxing by the pool. The pool at Cathy's condo reminded me of a southern resort, surrounded by palm trees and flowering hibiscus.

Sunday was the warmest of our trip, 81 degrees and sunny. We headed to the Naples beach, walked the pier, collected seashells (for my students) and swam in the Gulf of Mexico.


This beach house isn't even the largest of the gargantuan mansions we passed on our walks. I honestly don't know who can afford to live in such splendor and why you would ever need so much space. Many of the homes were currently vacant, with their hurricane shutters drawn.
The joys of Florida:
* warm sunshine * seeing Cathy * wearing sandals every day * walking barefoot on the beach * swimming in the ocean * collecting shells * meeting Tuffy and Booker * palm trees * flowers in bloom * deals at stores * fruit bowls & Yahtzee in the evenings * waves splashing up on your legs as you walk * soft white sand * pelicans diving for fish * seabirds * good food...


On our last day we headed out to the Snook Inn on San Marco Island, a favorite restaurant of Cathy's. This sign was posted outside in the parking lot. Coming from the UP, I had to laugh.

Friday morning we left Cathy's at 4:30 a.m. to make it to the airport on time for our first flight to Atlanta. We arrived back at our little airport at 5 pm on Friday, to 15 degrees and snow. Surprisingly, it felt refreshing after hours sitting in hot airports and planes.

Now it almost seems like a dream that I was even in Florida, so far removed is it from our cold, snowy home here. At least I have pictures and a bit of remaining tan on my legs to prove I was indeed there.