The day of reawakening

There comes a day every year when everything starts over.  That perfect, one in 365 day, when you know the winter is behind you and spring is coming and life is good. 

Let me tell you about my day.  First today is Sunday, so I got to sleep in a little bit and actually did for a change.  Rolled out of bed about 8:30.  Booted up the computer, read my email, checked FB, read PostSecret (a Sunday morning ritual since Michaela died...something I do for her), did some picking up around the house and other small light chores, listened to the hubby fussing around in the kitchen, ate blueberry pancakes and bacon (yum), had multiple miscommunications with said hubby (he was mumbling, can't be my hearing), loaded up our bikes and headed out.



It's safe...really.

 Yesterday Karen and I had scouted out a new bike path to try.  Today, the three of us took off with the bikes for the first time since Thanksgiving morning.  Apparently I, alone among us, is in much worse shape than I was in November.  Admittedly, Bill has been working out 4 or 5 days a week and Karen has lost some weight (due to stress, sadly) since that time, while I am the same weight, only fatter.  But anyway, we put ourselves right in the middle of Redneck/Cracker country (depending on where you're from, you should be familiar with those terms) on bikes in the middle of Wild Boar hunting season.  Perhaps not the best choice, but since most of the hunters seemed to be on bikes or in Airboats, it was probably fairly safe.



Weird Green Water

 As is usually the case, Karen and I set off in tandem in the front, with Bill riding a good distance behind, like a movie star's body guard.  And that is mostly how we rode for the next 16 miles, with Karen and I chatting quietly and Bill making sure we survived yet another ill advised adventure.  There were a few exceptions, when we approached unknown people, Bill seemed to find his way closer to us and occasionally even in front of us.  And when I went off road and climbed off my bike, I just got a hollar from behind...ok, we ain't saving your ass now! ....that was from Karen, although I should point out that 2 minutes later she was right beside me checking out the green water; there is a reason she is my chosen sister, something that I won't have to explain to anyone who has one.  P.S....you have to adopt the language of the culture you immerse yourself in, and we were fully in character today!  The only scary part was when 3 big gators, who apparently didn't see us, suddenly saw us and jumped into action...I almost peed my pants, but of course they just turned and got in the water to hide from us.


We Ain't Saving Your Ass

 At the 8.5 mile mark we had to turn around, a fact I knew, but apparently forgot to share.  We found a different trail back, one that was seriously in hunter country, but also was through the middle of what had obviously been a recent wildfire.  It was ravished, but oddly beautiful.  7 miles back on a grass trail before we hit the gravel again.  Along the way we did encounter hunters.  Mostly young boys on bikes with dogs.  One group had their Boar and were just sitting in the shade enjoying the day.  We joked as we approached, before we saw the Pig, that we hoped it was a BBQ stand because we were starving.  But once we saw the Pig, it clearly wasn't open for business yet, so we pedalled on. 

At the end of the trail, sore and hot and tired, we loaded up our bikes and took off to get some lunch.  Yesterday we had also found a Fish Camp (this is common in FL, although not something I had ever seen anywhere else much).  So we, Karen and I, wanted to got there, despite Bill's reluctance (there will be a future blog about Fish Camp Etiquette).  


The cops.

 At the fish camp we ordered a beer and one to be kept in the fridge for us, fried gator, fried chicken, and burgers then took our order that showed 'paid' outside to the little trailer where they actually cooked the food.  Found a picnic table in the sun and waited for the cook with the very big voice to call our names.  When the first beer was done, I went to get the second, but the lady who had put them in the fridge for us was nowhere in sight.  I just held up my empties and said, 'she was holding two of these in the fridge for us.'  No questions asked...its that kind of place. We sat and watched the airboats come and go, including a Brevard Country Sheriff's department air boat!  We soaked up some sun and some beer, complained about our aching legs, and just relaxed together and it was all good. 


Life.

 But of course, life is never all good.  This little break for us came while we have a friend recently out of the hospital after nearly dying recuperating at Karen's house and Karen's brother seriously ill in Texas.  Much of our talk today was about when she would leave for Texas and how we were going to do it, but of course, as life goes, we just don't know yet.  There isn't enough information to make those decisions.  So we put them aside and just relaxed for a few hours. 

When we got home, I was greeted with the happy news that my son is ranked in his college conference for the triple jump.  Don't know what that is?  No worries, neither did I, but apparently David is quite good at it.  He started his senior year in HS and got a scholarship for it. 


Then we poured a drink, got out books and headed out for some backyard (almost) naked sunning.  Yes, I know, sun causes skin cancer.  I doubt I'll get it, nobody in my sun loving family ever has.  But the health benefit of letting that sun soak into your bones can't possibly be denied.  Not the hot summer sun, but the warm spring sun that you can just enjoy for hours without overheating.  It soaks every care out of your body. 

There are a lot of people who think Florida doesn't have seasons and that is just not true.  We have seasons just like most of the rest of the world.  We are blessed that our winters are short (and mild) and our summers are short (and hot) and the between time is very, very beautiful (most years).  But we winter, just like the rest of you do.  We get cold and frosty and we have to change our habits and our wardrobes. 

But every year, usually in February, but sometimes earlier and sometimes later, comes that day.  That day of reawakening. I think it comes for everyone.  Today was that day for me.  I am blessed.