My Florida Vacation

A friend asked me to share photos from my recent trip to Florida and short cruise to Cozumel…and I realized that I didn’t take very many pictures. 

At least not up to the Vince Cordova standard of picture taking for a vacation.

 

I know we’ve become a very “snap happy” society with the advent of cell phone cameras that take excellent quality photos. But it also helps to have someone who thinks to take the photos.

 

For years, that was my Vince. And, because he loved taking photos and documenting our daily life, I have so many memories. Even insignificant dinners where he’d take my photo (despite my protests). Now, when they come up in my Memories on Facebook, I get to remember that night that I may not have specifically remembered otherwise.

 

Before Vince, I felt like I DID take a lot of photos. And this – mind you – was back in the day when we had those little point-and-shoot 35 mm cameras where the film had to be developed. I usually brought my camera along whenever there was a party or a gathering or a trip somewhere.

 

True, there were no selfies or duck lips, or hands on popped-out hips photos. And there were a whole lot of pictures that – once developed – were out of focus or might have been good except that the tallest person had their head cut off in the photo. Or they were just generally a bad photo that should have immediately been thrown away. But because we spent money on the film developing, they usually got tossed in a box of photos with all the other blurry shots as well as the negatives.

 

So now many of us have boxes and bins of photos in attics or closets or basements that need to be sorted.

 

That’s one of my March projects. There. I said it – now I’ve gotta do it!

 

Anyway, back to my trip.

 

I had a wonderful time! I rested and relaxed. I enjoyed the warmth and the sunshine. I had a glass (or two) of wine and some great conversations. I got to dip my toes in the ocean. Several times.

 

My hosts for the first weekend – Melinda and Dan – were happy to show me around their (relatively) newly adopted state. Melinda tried to point out various areas of their part of Florida. In vain, I might add.

 

It’d be like me trying to explain to someone not from Central Ohio the trip from New Albany to Grove City – and all the suburbs in between. To a directionally challenged person, this is a lesson in futility.

 

Perhaps I should have pulled up a map and followed along. But I also knew I wasn’t going to be driving myself around there anytime soon. And if I ever do, I will desperately rely on my GPS.

 

So instead I just enjoyed the drive and looked at the flora and fauna that is Florida.

 

We enjoyed meals out. And had some tasty drinks. And went to a pop-up outdoor market where we poked around the handmade goodies made by locals. One night we even had a Facetime call with our friends Brian and Patty back in Columbus, which was fun. Especially since Melinda, Dan and I were outside on their patio by the pool.

 

I then moved on to Susan and Jeff’s. I worried a bit that I might be overstaying my welcome since I was going to spend several days with them – and then Sue and I were going on a 4-day cruise to Cozumel.

 

You know what they say about guests and fish? Something about three days and beginning to smell – or something like that.

 

But Sue and Jeff were also great hosts and I felt a sense of rejuvenation that being on vacation with no responsibilities ensures.

 

Especially since I had no dog-walking duties. (Haha. Sorry, Mags…!)

 

But Sue and I went to the beach one day and just reveled in the heat and sunshine. Fortunately, for my paler-than-white skin, we had an umbrella to shield us. This, along with my 70 SPF kept me from frying. Thus, I came back to Ohio with a slight tint of color, but not anything that people would look at me and suggest I’d “gotten some sun.”

 

In my teens and 20s, that would have been an insult. But – hey – with age supposedly comes wisdom. Am I right?

 

Sue and I had pedicures one sunny afternoon, which was necessary lest I horrify the natives with my gnarly feet that have been fully hidden in socks and boots all winter. Felt blissfully freeing to wear my flip flops with happily polished toes in “Under the Moonlit Sea,” which is a cool purply-blue color. Sue chose “Aquatic,” which was gorgeous – a sparkly green with blue flakies.

 

Gee, you wouldn’t have guessed that we were going with a theme for our upcoming cruise, would you?

For dinner one night we had burgers on the grill, which, believe it or not, was one of the highlights of my trip.

 

I know what you’re thinking, which is probably: “You are weird, Jane’s Domain!” And that may be a nice way of putting it. But allow me to explain.

 

I can’t remember the last time I had burgers on the grill. Vince used to be our Grill Master and he’d make us the tastiest burgers on any random Tuesday. I took those dinners for granted, I guess.

 

And there is just something about burgers on the grill that no “flame broiled” or “gourmet” burger can hope to compare.

 

Sure, I suppose I could go out and buy a grill and make my own burgers. But it’s just not the same, you know? Besides, I’ve been known to singe off my eyebrows with a grill and, well, that is just not a good look.

 

I also read a lot of books on this vacation. To some, that might mean it was a boring vacation. To me, on the other hand, it meant I truly had a chance to relax. I told my sister recently that I’ve had a hard time concentrating on books since Vince passed. Don’t ask me why. It’s just hard to fully immerse myself in fiction. Sometimes I find myself re-reading pages because I’ll finish a chapter and have no idea what I’ve just read.

 

During this vacation, I managed to read just like I used to. That’s a good thing.

 

Hunh. I didn’t think I had a lot to share about my trip to Florida. Guess I never know when to shut up – and burgers and SPF and book reading becomes the topic of conversation.

 

Ah well. If you’ve read my blogs before, you know that they sometimes meander. (Sometimes?? Surely, you jest, Jane!)

 

I may write more about our cruise to Cozumel in another blog. Meanwhile, enjoy the sunshine-y pictures. 

Here in Ohio on this Sunday, we’re having a snowy, dreary day. But no matter the temperature outside – I hope you enjoy your day.

 

And I’ll be back again soon!