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Name: Mary Ricksen
Location: West Palm Beach, FL, United States

I moved to Florida in 1980 and I have been missing the mountains ever since. I love pets. Born in Vt., want to move to NC. in the mountains. Love change of seasons, which I miss here in Florida. When I was younger I loved to ride horses, I thought Id die if I didn't have one. I lived anyways. We moved a lot when I was a kid from Canada to Florida I met all kinds of people. The more rural, the more friendly people are. I have a beautiful secret garden, with everything from Plumeria to Penta. The butterfly's love it. There is nothing better than sitting out there with a good book and seeing the palms and ferns wave in the breezes. I have written and published my first book in a series that takes place on Lake Champlain in Vermont. The first place that felt like home to me. The only thing comparable to the Green Mountains are the Great Smokies, and a little town called Bryson City, NC. My next home, hopefully!

Friday, September 19, 2008

Life in Florida-the Change of Seasons

Florida is a beautiful state. There are bright people here despite the hanging chads. It made us mad too!
Certainly in the dead of a six month long spell of freezing weather, this is paradise. The ocean and palm trees, this is the place to be.

The one thing I miss about not being up North is the wonderful change of seasons. Here in Florida the change is almost imperceptible to anyone who does not live here. It's so subtle in the fall. The first thing I notice is that the crystals I have hanging outside of the back sliding glass doors, will start to throw their rainbows across the room as they move in the breezes, flashing colors around the kitchen and living room in a kaleidoscope effect. The sun has begun to move lower in the sky and more to the south, as it does light finally hits the faceted leaded glass.

The next thing I notice is that at night it is not quite as humid. Usually nightfall doesn't provide much change in the oppression of sauna like heat. Even though it is insidious, it starts to be less stifling outside. There is the hint in the air of subtle change. Yes, the evenings are just a tad less humid. That's about it.

Winter brings less humidity and the chance of temperatures getting below eighty degrees. When you can open the windows it's winter. this is the time the natives bring out their winter coats in preparation for the maybe two or three nights it gets below fifty. Below forty five they break out the gloves.

Spring the heat begins again, till by summer you can fry a egg on your head outside. I haven't tried this, but I've felt the heat on my head and it sure seems like it could cook food. It's cooked my head several times already.

Now it's summer, my crystals are no longer shining into the house to brighten my day. By the time I get from my front door to the car my head is drenched. By the time the AC kicks in my hair lies in wet globs of sweat. I'm having hot flashes from the ninety five degree temps. and the ninety percent humidity. And God help us all there are hurricanes, Florida sticks out into the Atlantic like a thumb.

The only difference between me and the snow birds is the money to leave. How did native Floridians stand it before air conditioning. Can anybody tell me?

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