Florida Dreams

It’s January. It’s January in Utah and we are experiencing sub-freezing temperatures. There is extreme inversion in the Salt Lake valley, which compounds the cold temperatures and chokes the clean air with pollution. This type of unwelcome weather is sheer misery for those of us are not related to polar bears.

A few years ago, pre-child, Laurie and I took a vacation to Miami, Florida. We stayed with some of our friends who were willing to put up with us for a week . Although it was late January and cold as hell at home in Utah; Florida welcomed us with warmth and sun. We stayed close enough to the beach that we were treated to comfortable ocean breezes and clean air whenever we were outside. Our trip was an exquisite journey that revealed how sweet life can be in January. Then, two years ago, I returned to southern Florida in January. This time I stayed with friends who live in Ft. Lauderdale. I was again greeted with warmth and sun. Perhaps not as warm as my first trip, but Utah had a record-setting blizzard while I was in Ft. Lauderdale, so I felt very blessed.

Needless to say, at this time every year, I start yearning for the paradise that is southern Florida. The combination of the supreme weather and the graciousness of my hosts have caused me to fall in love with the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area. Granted, if I lived there I would probably long for different seasons. However, when I bundle up in my bed with 3 blankets covering my shivering body tonight, I will close my eyes and relish in the glorious memories of southern Florida.