I didn't make it to Florida in December of 2024. I had already been in March and again in September, and with my then new job at Dunkin, taking time off in December just didn't seem prudent. And then I went through 11 months of 2025 without a plan to go. Jim had visited alone in August, and then again with the family at Thanksgiving. It just didn't appear to be in the cards. Then our managers slashed work hours just before Michele sent the invitation for a Florida Christmas. I jumped at the chance!
Jim and Jonah picked me up at the Orlando airport early last Friday afternoon. We stopped at Gideon's Bakehouse in Winter Park for some cookies on the way home and I spent a leisurely week of holiday fun with my Florida family. There was a little bit of shopping (at Walmart), several dinners at Grammy and Granddad's house, a trip to the Orlando Science Museum, and a whole bunch of crafting! There was also a ton of gift giving. So much fun!!!
I arrived in Orlando with a slight cough and a hoarse throat. I kept thinking whatever it was was going away, but it kept returning. (Most colds start in my head and drop into my chest. This appeared to do just the opposite. A slight wheeze on the exhale for a week prior to my departure, finally reaching my sinuses by Christmas two weeks later.) I rarely ever get sick and can't even believe I am when it happens. I never got a fever, never felt sick to my stomach, didn't have a headache other than from missing my cup of coffee. Just the loss of my voice and a nonproductive cough that made lots of noise. (It's a little more productive now... like you need to know.)
We had three Christmases in Florida. The first was Christmas Eve morning because Santa arrives early at my son's house, leaving time to stop at Grammy's later on that night. We did not go to church this year (maybe more on that later... maybe) but there was a Christmas Eve dinner at Grammy's where the family all received new pajamas and stayed overnight in order to be there on Christmas morning. We stayed all day. They opened their gifts, we played games, ate junk food, and finally went home when it got dark out. That's when Southwest sent me a text about bad weather in the northeast and letting me know I could cancel my flight or book an alternative.
I ended watching the weather. It snowed all day Friday in Rochester, NY but Saturday looked precipitation free. I opted to keep my flights in place. Jim and I got up early and arrived at the airport as the sun was coming up. My flight was already slightly delayed, maybe by an hour so I didn't feel terribly rushed. We boarded the plane at about 9:30am, pulled away from the gate, and got in line to take off. That's when the Captain informed us we were number 10 in line. LOL! We were finally cleared for departure at 10:44am. Thankfully my flight out of Baltimore was also delayed and the assigned gate wasn't three miles away. I was able to grab a coffee and a raspberry croissant at a Dunkin on my way from one to the other. Hannah was waiting for me by the baggage claim on my return to snowy Rochester.
I unpacked my bags last night, did my laundry, and am thoroughly enjoying my loveseat in the corner of my living room. I slept like a baby in my own bed, grateful for a week of Florida family fun and sunshine. I don't go back to work until Tuesday morning.
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