Well, the end of this week has found Finn and I in Florida with my family but what a heartbreaking week it has been to watch Hurricane Ian devastate parts of Florida and also cause widespread flooding in the Carolinas. We were all on edge as we tracked Ian’s path and breathed a sigh of relief when the storm shifted so far to the east that my parents and grandmother wouldn’t be impacted. These types of scenarios are so difficult because I wish no person or community had to bear the brunt instead.
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To be honest, I was fully expecting our flight to Florida today to be cancelled due to remnants of Ian that were moving in to the Carolinas. I switched us from the 1p to the 9a flight in hopes we could get out before it got to bad…and we did.
We awoke to rainy conditions and 53 degree temperatures but CLT was fully operational. Our flight was super easy with minimal bumps or stress. Air traffic control did a great job of routing us around Ian’s bands and finding stable air.
Finn was an absolute rockstar through the airport and on the flight. We touched down in Florida at 9:30a to find sunny skies and 70 degree temps.
My mom picked us up at the airport and the next stop was…Mema’s condo! I haven’t seen the gulf this calm or clear in I cannot even remember how long. I struggled all day to wrap my head around how a storm as big and ferocious as Ian could have moved through the gulf just days ago.
We hung out with Mema for a while, ate lunch and visited P-Paw (my dad) and Mr. Beau. The next stop was the beach.
Even though it’s nearly October, the water temperature is still 83 degrees (for reference, it was 86 when we were here in early August). Finn went straight into the water and it was so nice to give him free rein since it was so calm and the shallow water extended so far.
After beach + pool, we took hot showers and got in comfy clothes. I paged through Real Simple magazine where I found this apple pie skillet cake that I will be baking ASAP.
We had dinner with my parents and then watched the sun set on my grandmother’s balcony before making a quick Publix run for some groceries.
We will be here through Tuesday. October is hands-down my favorite month to visit this area of Florida. The summer crowds have dissipated and the intense heat and humidity has broken but it’s still warm enough to spend a lot of time out on the beach and even in the water. The vibe this time of year is just so chill and relaxing.
Most importantly, we get to spend time with my family. My dad is doing so well in his recovery from his (double) open-heart surgery back in July. My grandmother is always over the moon to have us visit. And my mom is just a warrior. I am constantly awed by her bravery and perseverance given what she’s been through in the past year and the challenges that post-transplant life continues to present.
Hug your people hard. Tell them you love them. Pick up the phone. Make the trip. Life is crazy, unpredictable and often unfair. Nothing is a guarantee and what we have is right now.
Sending abundant love out to ALL tonight and this prayer. I find so much peace in it, especially when the world feels chaotic, confusing or covered in suffering.
xo,
Jen
