Practicing with the rabbi before the ceremony. Click to enlarge.
We just returned from a short visit to Florida for a family celebration. We had a marvelous time seeing my husband’s brother and his three grown children with their families, all gathered in one place for our grandnephew’s Bar mitzvah. The last time we were all together was nearly three years ago, and we remarked that we can’t wait so long between visits. Life is too short—don’t we all say this?
A perfect avocado from my sister-in-law’s tree
Click to enlarge.
Florida is an unbelievably beautiful place, it’s lushness rivaling Hawaii, though it does lack Hawaii’s stunning mountains. My sister-in-law walked into her yard and plucked a gorgeous avocado off a tree. She has mangoes and grapefruit, lychee, lemon and tangerine trees, a grapevine growing up a pergola, and palms everywhere. We loved waking up to such beauty every morning.
My brother-in-law’s screened-in pool is long enough to do laps in and float around on a raft until you are pruney and red, as my husband can attest. It was hard to get him out of the pool, in fact. When he came home, he realized how red his front side was and seemed surprised that if you stayed in a swimming pool in Florida for three days in a row without suntan lotion, you could end up with a darn good case of sunburn. I couldn’t blame him, however, because the one thing about paradise that was a little hard to take was the heat and humidity. And this is only June. I suppose, if you have lived in Florida year ’round for a long time, you get used to it. As for me, I need the change of seasons. I need the cool fall days, watching the leaves turning from green to gold and red, a steaming cup of hot chocolate in my hands. I need the hope of a snow day once in awhile. But I also know that deep in winter, I would trade it in for another day in paradise with family.
So cute! Oh, yes, and my grandnieces are cute, too. Click to enlarge.
Coming East 
Wonderful pictures! I hate the heat and humidity, I say as the temp here in the lowcountry today is high 80’s with real feel of high 90’s and humidity is 61%. I say that God gives me heat to remind me that I would not like hell at all. DAF
LOL, DAF. when we lived in San Antonio, the saying was, “If you want to know what he’ll is like, go to West Texas.” At least Florida is a whole lot prettier!
wonderful to have family to share these events. Maybe next family event could be in the winter though. Florida is much too hot and humid for me in the summer, and I’m the person who is cold all the time.
Really, HG? I’m cold all the time, too, but I still don’t like humidity. San Antonio was as hot, if not hotter, but it wasn’t as humid.
My brother in law has a place in Bonita Springs that sounds a lot like your brother in laws but he only lives there in thw winter. I’ve spent some time in FLA on business and there is nothing quite like FLA heat and humidity. Mazel Tov, by the way. It is a shame that we only get together with family only for big events, The last time I was with my family I was in Connecticut for my Dad’s fumeral. We said the same thing … we need to this more often and for a better occasion.
I know in our case, Bud, we have limited resources and plane tickets are so expensive. I’m sure that plays a big part of why families don’t get together more often. Plus, with George still working, he only has a certain number of vacation days.
I haven’t flown much lately and forget how expensive plane tickets are. We are about to learn … we’re headed to Virginia for a Bat Mitzvah in the fall.
Where in Virginia, Bud? Hope you can get decent tickets without breaking your bank.
Nice picture of you and the girls! Love your new glasses. I also had new ones made and will be ready for pick up on Thursday – we are visiting in the US now. So we are a lot closer. 🙂
Where in the States, Jiawei? Chicago area? I want to see a post of you in your new glasses when you get them.
You are right, Susan. My in-laws live in a western suburb of Chicago called Aurora. That’s where we are staying. Glad we are breathing the same air, more or less.
I just like the thought that there are fewer miles between us.
How wonderful that you all got together! But I’m with you about Florida. I spent a summer there in college and THOUGHT I was GOING to DIE. I love the seasons. And you be sure to remind me of that when I’m grumbling about the ice and cold in January.
Haha, Peg. How about if we remind each other?
That is an impressive swimming pool. Very cute last shot. 🙂 I would love to walk outside and pick avocados and mangoes, and lemons. I think the heat and humidity here rival the heat and humidity in Florida, but I could be wrong. I’m looking forward to learning what the seasons are like on the Eastern Shore. (They do have seasons, don’t they??)
Haha, Robin. I remember some Ohio summers that were miserably hot and humid when I was growing up. At least you are near the water. And yes, we do indeed have four seasons.
So despite all the lushness and fruit right outside the door, paradise has its price — I just couldn’t take that heat and humidity at all in Florida. I wilt like a damp dish rag up here with our own hot days and stickiness. I’m with you, I’m a four seasons kind of gal and enjoy the changes, even snowy days of winter. Looks like you had a wonderful family time.
I like the way you put it, Mama. Lushness has its price, and it’s one I’m not willing to pay. But we did have a fabulous family time.
Palm trees, I’m lingering on that picture…
Hey, we have palm trees here, too, Patti. Granted, they are not native, but we do have them.
It’s just not the same. Hope George is ok, sunburns are no fun.
He’s fine. It’s already turning into a nice tan. I’m jealous.
The swimming pool is impressive… Beautiful grandma and girl! Is that the new eyeglasses, nice!!
Yes, Amy, those are the glasses, and those are my grandnieces.
I am from Florida, but have been gone since I was 19 years old! Doubt that I could take the heat anymore since 90 degree days in Virginia (like today) are enough to induce long summer naps indoors. Glad you had a good time with family and BTW, the picture is lovely. What a trio of beauties!
Thanks, Dor. We’ve been gone from Texas for nearly five years now, and I don’t think I could take another San Antonio summer.
I like my seasons as well, but I wouldn’t miss winter if it decided to take a hike. Love your photos and the fact that your sister-in-law has all those wonderful fruits at her fingertips…that is a treat!
I have to admit that, of all the seasons, I like winter the least, but I gladly suffer through it so I can have three seasons I love.
Such a great picture! It just makes me miss everyone all the more.
We have to figure out how we all can get together in Florida, Ems.
I’d take snow in winter much sooner than humidity in summer. Though I am beginning to rethink that approach with the dry-sparked fires we are having :-(.
Yes, those are quite scary, Stacia! I don’t mind heat so much, but the humidity just plain wears me out. Today is a hot one here in Virginia.
Well, it was 92 degrees in Maine yesterday with a yucky dose of humidity. There is a reason I retired 450 miles NORTH of Philly and it’s name is heat and humidity! Glad you had a great family visit… and yes, we do need to have them more often. We had one Easter weekend!
Yikes, Carol! The trouble with heat and humidity in New England is that so many places aren’t air conditioned, though I think that is changing. Glad you had a family gathering of your own.
Sounds like a fun trip. Sorry for poor George though. That’s a sweet picture with the girls!
Can’t wait to meet your granddaughter, Al! In a few days, George’s red stomach and chest will be a deep tan. I’m hoping my freckles will run together so I can look like I have a tan.
Love family celebrations! And, yes, we ALL say that we shouldn’t wait so long between them.
The dilemma is we don’t have enough time because George is still working, but when he retires, we may not have enough money.
Nice that you were able to go. I’m a 4 seasons gal myself and hate the humidity. It’s already quite hot in NJ — a bit worrying since it’s only June! Any excuse for a family get together is worth dealing with the heat, the travel, etc.
I think I would enjoy Florida more in March, Grandma, right when I am sick of winter and long for spring. Florida at that time wouldn’t be very hot or humid yet.