Notes From Florida
Posted March 07, 2011 by
We're still in Florida and I'm counting our remaining hours with dread. I don't want to go back to Chicago winter.
It has been incredibly rejuvenating to bask in 80 degree weather. We've gone to the pool every single day and Vera is turning into a really enthusiastic swimmer. I've got a good tan going and I've eaten fish three days in a row. We've been running and biking and swimming and going to the movies and reading books and looking for alligators, and it's all just been marvelous.
(I've been uploading new photos to Flickr every day. You can see the entire Florida album here.)
Did you know that I once lived in Florida for five years? From the age of 9 – 14 we lived in Destin, a small town midway between Pensacola and Panama City. Florida is an interesting place. The sticky humidity, lizards underfoot and trickling Spanish moss can't help but imprint themselves onto anyone who is here for more than a few days, and all week I've been flashing with sense memories of my own time here. There's actually a whole chapter in my book that takes place in Destin.
Speaking of my book, I officially finished the first draft about a week ago. Greg read the whole thing and I made a few edits based off of his notes. I have a couple last tweaks and then I'm handing the whole thing over to my editor, probably this week. I know she'll be back to me with tons more edits and that I won't officially be DONE until early summer, but I'm excited to see what she thinks of what I've done so far.
Each day that I've been here I've been reminded of how it was on this very same trip last year that I made the first tentative notes for this book, and now here I am a year later handing in my first draft to a publisher. Even wilder is that this time next year the book will be hitting stores. And even wilder than that is that I began notes for my second book this week.
Further evidence that traveling is good for the soul. Getting out of one's life now and then is vital. It provides perspective and much-needed inspiration.
With every trip we take I swear that Veronica takes leaps and bounds in her development. She's been speaking more than ever this last week, talking in full sentences and saying really creative things — that my earrings look like apples, or that the bug we're peering at is going shopping for groceries. It's so much fun to hear what's going on in her little head. She seems just as happy to be in this weather as we are.
I know that life is going to pick up to a hectic pace once we get home. We have less than three months left in Chicago and so much to do in that short time. I'm grateful to be headed into such an exciting time in my life. Even if I want to stay on vacation forever.
A Brief Note on Putting Myself Out There
All This: Reflections on AtlantaFiled under: The Rules of Inheritance, Travel, Veronica by Claire Bidwell Smith
10 Comments
If it’s any consolation, I woke up this morning (in Evanston) to the sound of birds chirping! It ain’t warm yet, but that’s some kind of positive sign. soak in that warmth and maybe you’ll bring a little back with you!
Comment by Erin @ small things on March 7, 2011 at 7:39 am
Birds chirping are a good thing! Looks like its starting to warm up a bit…but I still dont want to come home!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 7, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Loving all your photos!
Comment by Emma C. on March 7, 2011 at 5:04 pm
So exciting for you to think back to this time a year ago and see how far you’ve come with those notes!
A holiday really does wonders, doesn’t it? Here’s hoping you’ll get back to Chicago with a renewed energy to face the last weeks of cold.
Comment by Sophie on March 7, 2011 at 8:49 pm
“The bug is going shopping for groceries”. That is one of the cutest things I’ve ever heard- gosh Veronica is adorable!!
Comment by Bellie on March 8, 2011 at 2:36 am
Shes REALLY into shopping.
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 8, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Thanks!! Were headed home tomorrow and Im feeling strong and ready to get back to my life!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 8, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Thank you! Theyre fun to take!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 8, 2011 at 7:53 pm
I’m so happy to be seeing Naples through your fresh and enthusiastic eyes, Claire! My parents moved there from Boston (having always previously vowed that they would *never* move to Florida since it was so full of old people!) after I left home, and my memories of going there to visit are unhappy ones. I’ve allowed them to color my overall feelings about Florida in general, and that’s certainly not warranted! Your photos, and the smiling faces they’ve captured are proof-positive that Florida memories can be happy ones indeed. Really wonderful that you have experienced it at its best!
Comment by Carroll on March 9, 2011 at 12:17 am
Oh, Carroll. I hear you. I find Naples incredibly homogenous. And Florida itself is quite a strange place. I could never live there. But we had such a nice time. It was all about just getting some sun and being with family, and this was the perfect place for that!
Comment by Claire Bidwell Smith on March 10, 2011 at 10:58 am
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