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Maple Showers
One of the benefits of parents who live in Florida is the weather report. My dad, the amateur meteorologist, will go like this:
"It's hot today. Not a cloud in the sky. Really beautiful."
"What do you expect," I mutter. "It's Florida." Just because it's pleasant doesn't mean it's not hell.
I mention these always-sunny-in-Florida reports to my sister, who lives in New Hampshire's Mt. Washington Valley, where she's learned to live with demanding bears and snow in June. She gets it.
Today, I was able to return the favor to my parents.
I was walking the dog about 8 a.m. when I realized that a giant maple tree on the corner was shedding its leaves so hard and fast you could hear it -- like summer rain on a tin roof. Giant pinwheeling leaves the color of corn were carpeting the tops of cars underneath. It looked like time-lapse photography.
So I called Florida to report on the weather.
"Dad, you don't get to see this anymore," I began, and went on how the yellow maples were shedding their cover so fast they'd be bare by the time I came back from the walk with the dog.
As I was giving the sort of eye-witness report cell phones allow, I saw a person down the street taking pictures in front of her house. That maple, too, was in fast-forward.
"Have you ever heard fall before?" I shouted, and like a schoolgirl she replied, "I know! I know!"
Farther down the street yet another yellow maple was in free fall. I know so little about biology, and what makes them going into action all at once. The cold? The calendar? They must have all gotten the memo.
Hi Daniel, A friend of mine recently moved to Florida. She is always giving me an update on the beautiful Florida weather just like your parents. This past week as I sat in my daily morning rush hour traffic jam along Burnt Mill road in Cherry Hill NJ, I was awestruck at the beauty of the many giant maples that line the road. Never before had I noticed these beauties which were now glowing a brilliant red and yellow on an otherwise gloomy, windy and cold morning. My morning commute has become a world of wonder. I look forward to next year. My friend in Florida doesn't know what she's missing. John Cherry Hill, NJ
Hi Daniel, A friend of mine recently moved to Florida. She is always giving me an update on the beautiful Florida weather just like your parents. This past week as I sat in my daily morning rush hour traffic jam along Burnt Mill road in Cherry Hill NJ, I was awestruck at the beauty of the many giant maples that line the road. Never before had I noticed these beauties which were now glowing a brilliant red and yellow on an otherwise gloomy, windy and cold morning. My morning commute has become a world of wonder. I look forward to next year. My friend in Florida doesn't know what she's missing. John Cherry Hill, NJ
I live in CA and grew up in South FL and would take both places over nasty cold weather. We have changing leaf colors here in CA and I could always visit if I wanted to see the leaves in the Northeast.
Not only is the sky a bright blue, the sun hot and the winds are cool, however it is time to plant impatiens, which will add more color to our lush grounds this winter. I really don't miss raking leaves but I do enjoy playing golf all winter.
Stop torturing me, Dad.
Daniel - I'll give you the OTHER side of the story. I grew up here and moved to South Florida Sept. 1995 to be with my then fiance / now husband. He told me if I wanted to be with him, then I needed to be in Florida - and there would be no discussions of moving out of the Sunshine State. I loved living there - until Hurricane Wilma did a number on my home and psyche. When my husband (a native New Yorker) asked me in August if I wanted to move back to Philly, I didn't hesitate for one second. My son and I arrived here on November 3rd - and my husband and dog finally got here on November 21st. We watched the leaf blizzard the other day and remarked how beautiful it was. My son, who has never seen snow, shreiks with delight at the fireworks of color exploding in the tree canopy above us. We are LOVING the change of seasons - and even having fun breaking out the sweaters and scarves. Our friends in Florida all said - Wow - moving to Philly? It's going to be COLD.... If that's all there is to it - that's sad. Wow...staying in Florida?? Enjoy the insane property taxes, the equally insane homeowner's insurance rates, and have fun watching your house blow away during the next Cat 3 - or 4 - or 5 hurricane. We'll take the falling leaves any day. Sandy A. & family Gladwyne, PA
To all the Philadelphians Yes the leaves are beautiful but I will trade any day to the sunny days and no humidity from October- March. Green grass and yes the leaves due fall. For 2 weeks. And back to green again!! I'm from Mayfair. Go Gators!!
Sandy, my parents' home was seriously affected by both hurricanes. They basically gutted the house and started again, but even with that my mom said if it happened again they would just rebuild. It also helps that they have both homeowner's insurance and their home is paid off. My mom grew up over in the Warminster area and really hates cold and snow. My grandparents totally hate it as well. They have had their fill. It is probably the same deal for the blogger's parents. For myself, I am still under 30. I did PA for 4 years and then decided to move out to Northern CA. The snow was okay for the first 3 years, but by the third year I was like okay I have had my fill; same thing with the cold. It all depends on where you grew up as in my case or in the case of the blogger's parents, perhaps life being easier. Outside of Philly being cold Sandy, truthfully, I thought it was overpriced for what it was. Plus it lacked all the diversity that we have in South FL. I grew up in West Palm Beach and before moving to PA lived in Miami. When I moved from Philly to the Bay Area a little over 2 years ago, I felt like I finally had a return to normal. Depends on what you are used to.
Diversity in South Florida? Everyone is Spanish. How diverse is that? Different does not mean diverse. I love it here in Florida, but I miss my Valley Forge!
Having grown up in Philadelphia I never knew that winter could be anything other than cold. I have lived in Tampa, FL for the past 14 years and the only thing I miss about living in the Northeast is Fall. Even when it does get what the natives here call "cold" the air never has that crisp, fresh smell. Despite all the problems the state has, I wouldn't move back to PA. Barb Y, Tampa, Fl
Stephanie & Barb & the other Floridians - To each his own. Every place has it's overpriced areas, it's screwed up infrastructure and it's personality quirks. I'm enjoying the attytood in Philly lots more than the swampy humidity I left behind. (Plus, my hair has never looked better!!) My husband and I both felt that SFL was severely lacking in personality and diversity - and unless you were a Cuban or a New Yorker, there is no sense of cohesiveness - no community. (My husband is a native New Yorker - and even HE couldn't stand most of the Long Islanders he encountered.) You've got three different metro areas all competing for attention. The orchestras all were in competition, and none survived. The Opera has to play in two different areas just to survive. There are few museums in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area. I lived in the area for over a decade and never felt like I belonged. I am a native Washingtonian (DC) - but I've been back to Philly for less than a month, and already everything feels right again in the world. Enjoy your piece of home, wherever you find it. I'm off to jump into the leaf pile....and breathe the crisp autumn air. And my hair looks fabulous!