Honey the cat goes to Florida

Accompanied by her faithful humans. . .

It was very cold when we left Michigan, everything covered in snow. My nerves were not eased by the fact that that morning on the news the apartment complex where our housesitter lives had been engulfed in flames overnight. I was worried about my housesitter and couldn't reach her to see if she was ok. Eventually I did and she was fine.

Honey sat on my lap and the pilot gave her a friendly scratch. She was calmer than I expected and I did not even give her the sedative my vet had prescribed.

It was a long time but a short time and we were flying over the beach I call my own. I'm having a hard time describing how I felt recognizing familiar places from the air. I was close to crying.

The rest of that day and the next was not so joyous. Renting a car and being introduced to Florida's bizarre "no fault" insurance laws which, apparently, require no one to have auto insurance and make you responsible for their damage even if they cause the crash. 

Then we discovered we had no internet, although I have to say the rental agency reps worked with us patiently until at last (and thank you Angie at Comcast) we were hooked up.

Then, finally, we were in Florida. Florida which is like a warm and loving mother with lemon scented arms. The air is silk, the birds are everywhere, and I found my orchid which I left behind last year in the same spot, a bit neglected, but with a bud. It could bloom again. I would be ecstatic. I also found some fresh catnip at Lowe's and planted it for Honey.

Walking into the produce department at the store, I was in tears again. There are so many scents: tomatoes, peppers, melons, coconut, roses, limes. I have never been in a produce department in Michigan that smells so good. 

And Key lime pie.

 

On one of these days, we stopped at the Venice Beach for a hot dog. . . 

And I dipped my feet in the ocean.

Thank you for reading, you are very kind.  I am lucky beyond description to be able to do this, and owe many people, not the least of whom is Tom's mother, who showed us the way.