Someone wants me to explain why I left her in cold, rainy New York while I was bike riding in 80 degree (27C) Florida sunshine.
Marlee was well cared-for. Mildred, my cat-sitter, even spent time with her on New Year's Eve. But Marlee still wants to know why I get to have all the fun. She's not buying my explanation that I was visiting my parents.
Really, I was...
Yesterday I got back from a few days in Florida. I spent some time with Mom and Dad. As usual, I ate too much: How could I do otherwise when I'm surrounded by Mom's cooking. (At least, it seems like there's food everywhere I turn when I'm there!) How does the saying go? Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we can diet. Or something like that.
Of course, we all know that, at this time of year, you go to Florida for the weather. And indeed it was warmer there than it was in New York: 30F (-1C) when my flight landed in the Sunshine State. It was 3F (-16C) that morning in New York.
As for the State's motto: We did get sunshine, yesterday and the day before. The two days before that looked more like this:
Hmm...The Atlantic Ocean at Painter's Hill might actually be even prettier under an overcast sky.
In such conditions, I am not the only one in Flagler Beach contemplating her existence:
We all know that the ocean is really an infinite road, perhaps the one not taken (Sorry, Robert!):
I'll blame the fact that I didn't ride further along this road than I did on the bike: The rear wheel was literally falling apart. I rode back to Mom's house as darkness was approaching. I figured that the next day I could get the bike to the shop. But Dad took me there the following morning. By the time I changed the wheel, the sun was playing tag with the clouds and I followed more of that road--and A1A, along the ocean.
I confess: I was following this procession:
