The End Of An Era

I am coming to the end of a Florida era. An era of endless golf carts and over-abundance of elderly people that look like they could water skii with the best of 'em. Where the winter clothing consists of short sleeve collar shirts and light rain jackets, and people talk of how it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas because the temperature got down to the 60's. Brr. These people are hardcore.

I'm wearing my Rudolph t-shirt right now just to be festive:) But in all honesty, it's kind of thrown us off with our seasons....seeing Christmas lights up on the houses and hearing the classic holiday songs played on the radio, while also walking by people who are still wearing shorts. Weirdness. Not a bad weird though. Not to me anyway, I fully appreciate the warm.

Yes, I definitely do NOT have any complaints about the warmer weather, no sirrey-bob. I have not missed wearing 3 pairs of socks and still having suspicions that under those layers, my toes were still blue. Or going outside to get something out of the car and having to dress like the famous overly-layered kid from A Christmas Story that couldn't even wiggle his arms. Yeah...haven't been in a hurry to get back to that. And how can I forget the smiling while your outside, only to feel your teeth hurt cause the freezingness somewhere sinks into your teeth and causes some kind of brainfreeze (only teethfreeze..) That's always fun. But the best thing of all is when you get a sniffley nose and you can feel the runnyness literally stop midway down. Why? Because it freezes. That's right, as if you don't look attractive enough, with a red face and chapped lips...and stacking so many coats on that you could put the Michellin Man to shame while you waddle around...you also have snot freeze on your face. "Eww!" you are most likely saying right now. But I'm sorry, that's what happens. It's not a pretty sight.

So much to look forward to! Yippee! I can't wait to experience absolute numbness in my fingers:) I mean, who doesn't? I know I'll enjoy it for sure. In fact, I may just invite some friends to go to the mall with me so we can take off our hats and watch the mortified faces of children as they witness our atrocious hat hair. It really is an experience. One that I'm sure you would enjoy;)

Ofcourse, I can take the unforgettable memories of seeing a golf cart collision between over-eager old people trying to gunnit through the intersection. Those little speed demons, they were probably hitting 30 on those things. Next thing you know they'll be catching them doing drag races in front of Walmart. Then again..who's to say they aren't already doing that? Hmmm...

I will really have to pray for more patience while on the trip back, because on the way here I thought I was going to wear the honk off the horn. And I don't know about other people, but I realize that for some crazy reason, I must subconsciously think that they can hear me yell at them through the windshield. You could look me in the face and tell that they can't hear me, but for some reason I feel like I should try. Maybe THIS will be the time when someone actually does hear......but I did keep the shakey fist to a minimum. That is something to be noted. I feel like I should've gotten a sticker or maybe a cheap bookmark that says, "I can control my shakeyfist!" That would be nice.

So the countdown is nearing an end to this wild Florida era filled with big bugs and lots of spanish music. But I hope that in all this craziness that we've tried to share with our fellow Americans, we can somehow take from it a bit more wisdom in what the Lord is teaching us and how to keep the joy He gives us, even in the trying times. So long sunshiney state, it was a blessing to know you:)

And just to point out, runnyness is a word. It's new. Thought that should be said...