Last night was spent in Gainesville, Florida. Yeah, our late-winter vacation is over, and we’re on our way home via Interstate 75.
As I lay in the hotel bed, I tossed and turned as a myriad of thoughts invaded my consciousness. I began thinking of how the last six-weeks’ traveling was much like the Christmas season, of all things.
Days and days of preparing for our trip to Florida---making lists, trying to be sure that all we will be needing is packed into the van and we’re ready to go. As it happened, we did forget a few things, but nothing of consequence. The anticipation of the departure date arrived, just like Christmas Eve with the family. The Christmas Season is filled with such happiness and a sense of wonderment much like our travels—finding and exploring the unknown (like Cedar Key, Summer Bay!) Ah, and the presents! Touching the nape of my neck this very moment is the frond of a 4-foot palm tree packed in the van behind me, a “gift” we handpicked (in the rain!) at a Homestead nursery. The young Mexican who drove Larry and me around the acres and acres of plants in his golf cart probably wondered what in the hell we gringos were doing!! The exquisite tropical plant will grace our deck and continually remind us of the palms in the Keys. And, as we drive north, we pick up the aroma of the fresh basil we have growing in our backseat—the beginnings of our herb garden started in the Keys and to be transplanted when we arrive home. What a “gift”----to be able to jumpstart the spring planting! And, what about the strange-looking vegetable we discovered in the truck farms of Florida City. We bought the two-pounder “potato” to cook for our friends. Now if we only knew its name! Other “presents” like the cooler full of snapper—mangrove and yellowtail—and the fresh home-grown tomatoes ready to be sliced for the first BLT’s of the season, and don’t forget the fresh picked strawberries from Plant land, FL !!! The “Christmas presents” are abundant. You know, how at Christmas time you experience a sense of newness and hope that all is right with the world, well, coming off the highway after weeks’ of traveling leaves you with the same feelings—that life is good and meant to be lived! That’s a good motto to live by----LOVE LIVING! Yeah, traveling is done for awhile, but, oh, the pleasures and memories will stay with us for long, long time!
As I lay in the hotel bed, I tossed and turned as a myriad of thoughts invaded my consciousness. I began thinking of how the last six-weeks’ traveling was much like the Christmas season, of all things.
Days and days of preparing for our trip to Florida---making lists, trying to be sure that all we will be needing is packed into the van and we’re ready to go. As it happened, we did forget a few things, but nothing of consequence. The anticipation of the departure date arrived, just like Christmas Eve with the family. The Christmas Season is filled with such happiness and a sense of wonderment much like our travels—finding and exploring the unknown (like Cedar Key, Summer Bay!) Ah, and the presents! Touching the nape of my neck this very moment is the frond of a 4-foot palm tree packed in the van behind me, a “gift” we handpicked (in the rain!) at a Homestead nursery. The young Mexican who drove Larry and me around the acres and acres of plants in his golf cart probably wondered what in the hell we gringos were doing!! The exquisite tropical plant will grace our deck and continually remind us of the palms in the Keys. And, as we drive north, we pick up the aroma of the fresh basil we have growing in our backseat—the beginnings of our herb garden started in the Keys and to be transplanted when we arrive home. What a “gift”----to be able to jumpstart the spring planting! And, what about the strange-looking vegetable we discovered in the truck farms of Florida City. We bought the two-pounder “potato” to cook for our friends. Now if we only knew its name! Other “presents” like the cooler full of snapper—mangrove and yellowtail—and the fresh home-grown tomatoes ready to be sliced for the first BLT’s of the season, and don’t forget the fresh picked strawberries from Plant land, FL !!! The “Christmas presents” are abundant. You know, how at Christmas time you experience a sense of newness and hope that all is right with the world, well, coming off the highway after weeks’ of traveling leaves you with the same feelings—that life is good and meant to be lived! That’s a good motto to live by----LOVE LIVING! Yeah, traveling is done for awhile, but, oh, the pleasures and memories will stay with us for long, long time!
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