Planted and Bloomed and Blossomed
Until 1987, I’d always lived in Texas. I was happy there…it was home. When I was younger, I thought I would never marry anyone who would take me north.
Surprise, surprise…life loves to throw you curveballs. Larry’s company transferred us to southeast Florida to begin building there. It wasn’t North but it seemed like it at the time. We knew no one. And because Larry was opening the area, there was no existing office to connect with people.
It was a huge cultural shock for both of us. I’d never seen two senior citizens have a shopping cart fight at the grocery store or remove their dentures and place them on the table at a restaurant.
We decided to rent before buying to get the lay of the land. Did we want a golf course community or something on the water? After watching activities at the local boat ramps we decided that living on the water with easy access to your boat at your dock would be easier.
We settled in and yet I resisted giving up my TX Drivers License and my TX tag on my car. This was in the late 80s so it wasn’t as easy as it is today to watch the local news from Houston.
I missed my family and friends…I missed Texans.
(Larry with Megan in FL at her high school graduation)
Thank goodness for my neighbor, Joanne! She and her whole family became our family for about 30 years. One day when I was finally putting on the FL tag on my car, she came over and said this…
Root where you are planted.
(Christmas 2000 with Erin in FL)
Once I fed my roots with FL sunshine, ocean water, warm winters, and the best extended family and friends I could ask for…my life took root! We were there for births, christenings, holidays, graduations, and everything in between.
While I'm happy to be back home in Houston, I'm thankful I rooted when I was planted in Delray Beach FL and would not have had it any other way.
This is an entry in the April Blog Challenge, are you blooming or being a fool? Hosted by Nick Vandekar and Eileen Burns.
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