Good day sunshine!

When I was younger, I hated living in Florida.  I hated the heat.  I hated the humidity.  I hated the lack of seasons.  I hated the bugs - the flying, biting, crawling, disgusting bugs.

After spending the last nine days there, I no longer hate Florida.  I still hate the bugs (ten mosquitoes, thank you very much for feasting on me).  I don't hate the heat, the humidity, or the lack of seasons.  Actually, the heat was lovely.  The humidity was refreshing.  I wouldn't know about the lack of seasons, but I could live with visiting snow rather than shoveling it.

Also, I didn't realize how culinarily deprived I've been.  I mean, I knew but I didn't fully realize it.

Have you ever read the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle?  Just in case you haven't, it describes the eating adventures of a caterpillar as he works his way through a variety of foods on his journey to become a butterfly. 

I feel like I ate my way through Boca Raton.  I ate every food I missed - corned beef on rye with mustard, bagels and lox, kasha knish, real jewish pickles, cuban lechon asado, moro rice, plantains, and amazing garlic knots.  And it was alllll delicious.  And I am still full.  And I did not become a butterfly.

I also got to shop at my favorite grocery store:  

 and brought home some of my favorite brownies from that store.  My kids love them.

I got to have dinner with this great guy:

(who drove two hours just to have dinner with his daughter).  And he drove two hours again just to have dinner with me at his house and take me to the airport.  My dad is a wonderful man.

I got to see this (up close and personal-like):

and buy souvenirs for my kids.

Okay, I did buy them souvenirs but I did not buy them alligator parts.  Not that they wouldn't have liked it.

I got to have dinner (and lunch) with great friends - the Goots and Marsha & Dom.  

As truly wonderful as all of the above was, the best part was serving Hiram, my step-dad.  Hiram has been part of my life since I was two years old.  He's the whole reason I went to Florida.  He was diagnosed with Stage I prostate cancer, and I went to be with him for his prostatectomy.  It's always an amazing opportunity to serve one of the parents who gave so much of themselves to me.  Hiram has been one of my parents for (almost) as long as I can remember.  And I had the opportunity to serve him and give to him.  I went to the pre-op appointment with him, waited at the hospital during his surgery, cared for his dog during his recovery, cooked some freezer meals for him, and cleaned the house a little.  

Our relationship is stronger for it, and I am better for it.  Thank you, Hiram, for allowing me to be there for you in your time of need.

And when I returned I came back to a colder, wetter Utah.  And while I am so happy to see my husband and kids, the sunshine still beckons.

Hope to see you again soon Florida.

And my kids are bickering.  Vacation...officially...over.