Time with a Treasured Friend

Having moved to Florida 23 years ago from my home state of New York, I am always thrilled when an old friend or family member comes to vacation in Florida. Recently, my college sorority sister, Marla, and her lovely daughter Livia (who I had only seen on Facebook), and I rendezvoused at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples.

The beach was beautiful and the skies were sunny and bright blue. We sat for hours, talking and reconnecting while Liv played in the Gulf and collected shell after shell. I came to learn that Marla’s parents (Massachusetts snowbirds) are regulars to this state park. In fact, her dad had a camera the size of a beach ball!

While we spent the day catching up, her parents were up the way at Wiggins Pass, photographing the birds, wildlife and fisherman. His images can be seen on his Flickr site, http://www.flickr.com/photos/shelshots/

I cherish the time I spent with my friend, and the fact that Florida has so many treasured parks to share with the world.

Footnote: I am a Board Member of Friends of Florida State Parks, a non profit citizen support organization formed to support the state park system in Florida. To share your own state park story and show your support for Florida State Parks, go to www.lovemystateparks.com and share!

Tailgating Done Right

This is what tailgating looks like in Gainesville. Orange and Blue and red cup craziness starting most weekends at 8am! Lucky for the Cushings, my friends the Spiros have been loyal tailgaters for more years than they probably care to admit. With a longtime reserved "spot" and a gang of fellow Gators, they are die hard fans. Have game will travel. Thanks Chris and Rach for making our first season memorable. Who is it that's in college, our kids or us? ;)