Too Much Driving

We are home after spending the night at Sally’s. Saturday, we drove up to visit and attend Gainesville’s 2nd annual Fly Pig parade, organized by the man who created the King Mango Strut in Coconut Grove 40 years ago as a protest to his not being allowed to participate in the King Orange Parade. 

My first memory of the KMS was 1989. We had a 9 passenger Suburban, and Grant had long gray hair. He; Betsy with Kristina and baby Emily; Sally or Marjorie; and me with Stephanie, Mary and baby Patten were heading back to the car, Grant leading the group of women, kids and strollers following. Traffic was slow, and someone yelled over “Where you in the parade?”

“Yes,” Grant answered, “we are the Polygamist Society of South Florida.” And so we called ourselves whenever we did a group event, mostly because often Grant was the only husband to attend. There was talk of a flag, but no one ever made one,


The Flying Pig was cute, but not as political as the Strut. It may evolve.


The next morning, Sally and I met Sue and Daryl at Sweet Water for birding. My eBird list has 31species including a Wilson’s snipe. Would have been 32, but I didn’t see the kinglet Daryl spotted. Also alligators, 3 marsh hares, and a big water snake.

A front was heading south, so we had a quick lunch at Sally’s, but not quick enough. We started out 5 minutes after the rain started. The stretch along I-75 was solid traffic and heavy rain. Just as we got on the turnpike, I finally got ahead of the front. The rain stopped, and the traffic thinned out. Easy drive home. (It rained 1 1/4” at our house when the front got to our house.)

Saturday, the traffic was really heavy on the turnpike, I assume people heading home after Christmas, so I switched over to 301 and 441 at Wildwood. A few more stoplights, but faster than the interstate.

For Christmas, we drove down to Patten and Ryann’s. He was like a mother hen, worrying over the prime rib he cooked in his new smoker. It was perfect. Potato casserole and a cauliflower salad. Marjorie brought a chocolate dried fruit tart. I made glühwein, served in the little cups we got on our cruise. 

Living in Central Florida means we are only 2-3 hrs away from most of the state. Lakeland, Fort Lauderdale, and Gainesville in 1 week has worn me out. I’m glad we will be home for a week before we drive to the Keys.

Amid the trips, Grant and I had our own Christmas. I got him the vegan cookbook touted in the New York Times. He got me a trail camera! I’m waiting for the SD card I ordered on Amazon so I can set it up in the back yard. Santa brought us an ice cream scoop and me an Audubon bird-a-day calendar. Plus, of course, a chocolate orange.

I plan to sit and enjoy it all.

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