Thursday, May 12, 2011

A TASTE OF FLORIDA IN CHICAGO

After my shocking arrival back to Chicago with the gray mist hovering over the city, I woke up to bright sunshine filtering through my multi-paned windows yesterday morning.

Groggy, I looked for the peacocks outside the french doors; visitors often showing up for a morning munch in the unfinished back yard. "Wait a minute! I'm  not in Florida anymore. How come there's all this light?" I muttered as I rubbed my eyes.

I glanced at the clock on the side table. "6:30? Why am I awake?" Ah, the time difference. Florida's an hour ahead.


I decided it was time to get up and I grabbed my laptop to read my emails and shortly after write my blog post for the day.

In Florida I took my morning power-walk on the beach at around ten o'clock, before the sun became too hot. After two days in the car I really needed to stretch my legs. I do have a lakefront just steps away from my condo, so I decided to power-walk there, keeping with my routine of two months.

To my surprise the was blinded by Chicago's beauty. Tulips of every shade lined the building next door. The ornamental trees in the park had thousands of tiny pink buds a moment away from bursting open. I relished the scene. Finally spring has arrived to Chicago.

Beads of sweat formed on my brow as I trekked through the park to the lake front. At almost 80 degrees at 9:00 am it was scheduled to be a hot day. I was overdressed in light weight sweats and a muscle shirt. Skirting toward the bridge that crossed the drive sapphire blue water shimmered like diamonds against an periwinkle blue sky. As I turned south the magnificent Chicago skyline took my breath away. Only Miami Beach and NYC could compare to this view.

After a few miles south, I headed north and stopped a quarter of a mile from the bridge. Peeling off my soaked tee, I rolled up my sweats, took of my running shoes and draped myself on the retaining wall. "I have to keep up my tan ..."

I have to admit I wasn't ready to leave the sun and surf of Florida, but know that I've made the long trip back to Chicago, I'm glad to be home. The rebirth from a frozen winter is a miracle and it can only be appreciated after living through it.

Good things do come to those who wait. And that my friends will happen to all of us as we journey on the long road to publication.

I hope you all discover something beautiful in your day. Let me know. I'd love to hear about it!


gregoryholmgren.photoshelter.com

20 comments:

Jo Schaffer said...

Yay for sun! We need that Vitamin D!

We had some really sunny days last week and I went hiking. Bliss!

Johanna Garth said...

Chicago is such a beautiful city with a little bit of everything for everyone! I'll be on the look out for something beautiful in PDX today (unfortunately, it won't be the weather)!

Heather said...

That's fantastic that the day turned out so beautiful for you! I discovered the beauty of perseverance and not giving up. I've decided not to give up on the last book I wrote. I won't be shelving it, I'll be looking at other options! I'm very excited!

Summer Ross said...

Its rainy and gloomy here in Wyoming. But the birds are singing and the wet greens look brilliant and bold. I'm glad the sun is shining in your neck of the woods.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

I'm glad Chicago had some beauty for you to enjoy. Sometimes we have to conjure the sunshine from within us. Have a great end of week, Roland

Talli Roland said...

Lovely! Glad to warm weather followed you home!

Laura said...

Sounds like heaven!My day has been blah... but there's still a whole evening to have fun with :)
Lx

Susan Oloier said...

What a great day! I felt like I was right there with you, Michael. Thanks for letting me live vicariously through you and your experience! Happy spring!

Golden Eagle said...

I'm glad to hear the sun is shining in Chicago! :)

There are blue skies here, too; and according to the weather service, it's over 80 degrees.

N. R. Williams said...

It rained all day here in Colorado and snowed in the mountains. It's raining still...that is weird for Colorado. But the sun will come out. I feel a little as if the weather is an exclamation point to my life right now. One bad thing after another. I've lived through enough of this kind of thing to know it always comes around.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium

The Words Crafter said...

I admire your sticking with your routine and how wonderful that such visage greeted you! Glad you're home safe and sound and HOT!

Nicki Elson said...

Hooray! Thanks for bringing the Florida with you. :) I'm loving the apple blossoms right now.

Margo Benson said...

Always good to be home, glad you made it back safely and enjoyed some Springtime too.

We have some splendid cows in the field opposite our house, which are beautiful in their own way :-)

Anonymous said...

That looks awesome, what a nice getaway. I hope you got lots of writing done, I'd love to live near there and do nothing but write for the summer *swoons*

By the way you're in my Friday Shout out this week. Have a great weekend.

Unknown said...

Borte er bra hjemme er best :)

LTM said...

it IS good to be home, yes? And the rebirth of spring really is more dramatic in places like Chicago. Richard said it almost reached 90 in Indy last week!!!

sigh. But that power walk to the beach is what I'm gonna miss... :o) <3

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

And then came Friday!

Brrrr!! Hope it warms back up soon!

erica and christy said...

We had warmth for a couple days, anyway - back to cold, cold, cold here. Glad you got home safely!
erica

Denise Covey said...

It looked like you did miss most of the Chicago winter.Well done. The Chicago skyline looks amazing.

Denise

Romantic Friday Writers - Second Challenge - LOST

Denise Covey said...

It looked like you did miss most of the Chicago winter.Well done. The Chicago skyline looks amazing.

Denise

Romantic Friday Writers - Second Challenge - LOST