Lettuce Share

I popped home for lunch today; and on my way, I passed an older woman walking on the sidewalk.  She made me flash to my last blog post about Floridians needing Christmas music to acknowledge that it’s actually December…my revelation during the flash: I am not a true Floridian.  I love Florida and its weather and style.  Most of my immediate family live within a 20-mile radius, so it feels like home.  I’ve lived here my entire adult life…and there’s the thing – my adult life, I wasn’t born here.  And although its just beginning to feel like fall to me, I may only represent the transplant Floridian not the true Floridian. 

John moved to Florida when he was five…now that may count.  Last night he got out of bed to brush his teeth and came back shivering!  But that’s nothing compared to the woman on the street today. She was wearing a number of things, but one item really popped out to me - an over-the-head ski mask with a face hole. OMG!  It was so insane that I drove to the house, grabbed my camera and went back to find her.  There she was still walking, just a little further down the road.  But when I approached, I got reverse camera-shy.  It seemed too weird to just stop the car and take her picture.  She looked to be in her seventies or maybe even eighties, and I certainly didn’t want to scare her.  So I made the mistake of explaining myself and asking for her permission to take the photo…she said “no.”  Although I’m disappointed, she probably made the right decision.  Picture or not, I’m about to make fun of her outfit. 

Here’s the scene: It’s 1:30 in the afternoon, and the outside temperature in my car reads 66 degrees.  She is not only bundled from head to toe, but she’s walking with a black umbrella to block the wind breeze.  Her first layer seems to consist of a shirt, pants, and ski mask.  The second layer – a hooded sweatshirt – and the final layer – a 3/4 length puffy ski coat, brimmed hat, sunglasses, gloves, and of course, the umbrella.  Now that’s a true Floridian!