Winter in South Florida

Okay, I'm kinda feeling guilty now when I hear the weather reports from around the country. I cannot believe how cold it is all over. I live in South Florida and this is our most beautiful time of the year. But I did grow up in New Jersey and I even lived in Connecticut for a year so I know cold weather. I vividly remember scraping ice off my windshield, trudging through snow to my knees and being bundled up like a snowman and still freezing. I remember warming up my car before I got into it and driving sideways up snowcovered hilly roads. I remember chapped lips and changing out my summer and winter clothes. I remember being elated to see the crocuses popping their little heads through the remnants of snow and walking through the fallen leaves of red, orange and yellow in the crisp Fall air. I remember being snug inside away from the first winters chill with a pot of chili cooking on the stove. And I remember seeing the first snowflakes falling to the ground and the beauty of that first snowfall.

But I kinda have to admit that it is really nice to sleep with the windows open in January. It's nice to toss on a sweater in our 50 degree cold weather. It's nice to water my outdoor flowers at this time of year and marvel at the new buds that pop out so frequently. It's nice to sit at the beach and read a book, or go to the State Fair next weekend, or sit and watch my daughter's soccer tournament this Saturday.

So to all my friends throughout the land, when you are enjoying the weather this spring and summer that I am enjoying now, remember that I will be battening down the hatches to keep the hurricanes out. No matter where we live, there is always something, so I'm going to enjoy the moment because that is all I can do.