Friday 12 April 2013

Florida, forty and more

Happiness is...building sandcastles


People have been asking about Florida, so I thought I'd do a quick update.

It was good, thanks for asking. Not that all my problems miraculously cleared up and went away - I still have a lot of painful and distressing physical issues going on - but it was a real break, both from the relentlessly long winter and from the routine struggle through the days that I've been experiencing. Being able to feel the sand between my toes after months of shivering in winter boots, and swimming in a bath-temperatured pool was better for me than any medicine, and during the time away I was able to relax a little,.

The boys were in heaven, playing with their cousins on the beach and in the pool, watching alligators at the state park we visited, even holding a baby one at the zoo. There was a boat trip where they got to see exotic fish being caught in a net, and then see and hold them close up. There was an Easter Egg hunt on the beach. There was a trip to the aquarium to see Manatees. And there was an all-you-can eat Easter brunch where they got to stuff as much candy, strawberries and chocolate as they pleased (while we feasted on seafood and roast lamb).

Yes, that really is a wild gator.

We spent my actual fortieth birthday in Pennsylvania. In search for a suitable place to stop off on the journey home (and not wanting to spend my milestone birthday on a six hour car trip), we were recommended the Brandywine River Valley region, on the Pennsylvania/Delaware borders. Here we found a quaint B&B (amusingly, the owners warned us about crooked floors and beams, not realising that it was exactly like an English country cottage), and, surprisingly for middle America, stumbled upon a fantastic local restaurant. I'll name names here because it really was so good - the Sovana Bistro, situated in an unprepossessing shopping centre, serves locally-sourced, seasonal food which was expertly cooked. What's more, they also do (gourmet) pizza, so the Littleboys were happy too.

The next morning was spent visiting Longwood Gardens, a botanical garden founded by the DuPont family (of Lycra fame) which has the biggest and most spectacular greenhouses I've ever seen, more impressive than even Kew or the NY Botanic Garden.
The conservatory at Longwood Gardens

Apart from The Doctor dropping a huge wad of cash somewhere in the botanical garden, and then a slightly hellish journey home taking the "scenic route" to avoid a traffic jam on I-95, all in all it was a pretty good birthday weekend. And, although I hadn't wanted a party, a friend managed to arrange a little gathering at a bar in town, and I got to celebrate with my girlfriends and a couple of margaritas. (Thanks also to my brother-in-law and his wife for organizing a delicious cake-and-champagne celebration in Florida).

Now we are back, and have exactly three months to go before we leave the US. We're on the home stretch, and I can't believe that it is all about to come to an end. What with two lots of visitors coming, three piano recitals, Littleboy 1's birthday and all that packing up to do, it's going to be a busy few weeks.  While I don't feel cured in any sense, I feel a little fortified by Florida and I'm gathering all my strength.





11 comments:

Melissa said...

Glad you are feeling better. A bit of sea air always helps and MANY HAPPY RETURNS!!! Welcome to the forties club. Enjoy your last three months in the US- they'll go by in a flash.

Expat mum said...

Belated birthday greetings. Glad you felt restored a little in Florida. We've just come back from LA and it's amazing what the sun and warmth can do to lift the spirits. x

Metropolitan Mum said...

Happy to hear that you feel a little fortified. In both senses :) I love Florida - the winter here has been endless, too, and we are all more than ready for some sunshine. xx

MsCaroline said...

Oh, it sounds like exactly what you needed, and I'm glad. Happy Belated Birthday, and sending you lots of energy as you enter the home stretch. xx

Almost American said...

Sounds like you had a good trip. Wow - only 3 months left - it will FLY by I'm sure!!

We have relatives in Kennett Square who volunteer at Longwood Gardens - I'll have to remember that restaurant recommendation for when we visit them this summer!

Anonymous said...

Hi there, I haven't read your blog for a while and was sorry to see that you have not been feeling well and that it still might be a bit of a mystery as to what is ailing you. I apologize in advance if I'm suggesting something that's already been discussed a thousand times already, but it does sound an awful lot like Lyme Disease. I live in Sag Harbor and as you know, it's epidemic level here on Long Island. I had a knee problem a couple of years ago that literally happened overnight and tests were unclear (one negative, one indeterminate, which caused my doctor concern as she felt strongly it was Lyme and promptly put me on doxycycline for a month). Anyway, I don't know if I had Lyme, but I didn't feel right. So many friends have had it and they suffered fatigue, depression, joint pain, etc. Anyway, I'm sure you've probably heard all this, but a friend of mine, who did test positive last fall, recently saw a doctor here who has a more holistic approach and he recommended some dietary changes among other things and it has alleviated almost all of her symptoms. She feels fantastic now. If you want more info, get in touch with me via jonesnykc@mac.com if you want more info, and again, sorry if you've heard all this before, but Lyme is a shifty little bugger (not to mention the other tick-borne diseases that seem to join it for the ride). I hope you feel much better soon!

Iota said...

Fortified at forty! I've never thought of that connection.

What does that leave me to look forward to, less than 2 years off fifty? Can you be fiftified?

Glad you had a good time.

Kit said...

Happy birthday - glad you had a good dose of sunshine and relaxation in Florida. Hope spring is arriving back home too.
Iota, fiftified... sounds rather alarming and I'm getting there too!

Nota Bene said...

Sounds as though it's done you the power of good...I'm pleased...and there's an air of excitement about your return...even with an amazing amount to do..

About Last Weekend said...

Happy Birthday and yes - I have done most of PA as my hubs is from there, found it very very hard to find a good restaurant if you don't always want to eat fried everything all the time

jackie chain said...

A lot of the books on your list for this one have mysteriously found their way onto my wish list…