Not too many years ago, moving to Florida was way down on my list, somewhere around root canal and digging for maggots. Not that there is anything inherently wrong with any of them - just wasn't something I planned on.........just shows how much of life we don't plan, doesn't it?? So, as you all know I am down here in the heart of Florida and find myself actually liking it. No, actually some of it I really love. There are of course, things about Illinois and specifically my native Chicago, that I miss dearly. (Goes without saying I miss my daughter and her family, my sister, cousins, etc....) But I'm talking about "things" here that we sometimes take for granted.
There is NO SUCH thing in Florida as an Italian Beef. Most people look at me and repeat, "Eye-talian Beef? What is that? Like sausage on pizza?" I decided once to try a recipe using the crock pot and a very nice sirloin tip roast. It was close, but no where near a Portillos or an Uncle Nicks. My brother and his wife became so competitive, they went out and bought a commercial meat slicer - hoping that would improve our Floridian version. It helped.... But then again, there is no such thing as ITALIAN BREAD - like Gonellas - so it was all close but not that close.
Hot dogs in Florida are sort of mushy versions of the worse store-brand you can imagine. And no, sauer kraut DOES NOT belong on a Chicago Red Hot (thanks NY for trying). no Viennas. No real casings. No pickle spear, no celery salt, no bright green relish, no poppy seed bun (llike Mary Ann Bakery). Just a soft pink stick with waaaaaay too much mustard, and (gasp!) ketchup.
Well, you may think all I miss is food......but there's more. I miss Oak trees with big Oak leaves. I miss Red Maple trees....I miss cornfields. I miss black and white dairy cattle and seeing red barns with Harvestore silos.
I miss taking the train into the Loop, the Red Line to Wrigley Field, power walking up Madison, browsing Michigan Avenue and spending hours at the Art Institute. I miss the fabulous architecture that elevates Chicago to world class and my spirits to no end. I miss the Lake and Oak Street Beach. I miss the Bears and my Cubbies. I miss the unmistable "accent" of a Chicago native, who will tell you where they live by naming their Parish. I miss the SANITY - yes, that's right, folks - the SANITY of driving on the Kennedy.
So, why do I want to stick around here? Well, obviously, there is warmth and sunshine. YEAR ROUND. No white flakes, no ice, no taking your life into your own hands just walking to your car. No sub-zero temps that back hand you with sub-arctic windchills. No mile-wide tornadoes that seem like God's bathtub drain.
Those are some of the things......but there is more. I love seeing palms growing side by side with Georgia Pine. I love the feel of the sand and the smell of the salt along the Gulf Coast beaches, the seagulls, the pelicans, catching site of a dolphin while driving across Tampa Bay. I love the hawks that crowd the sky and the little lizards that dart around my sidewalk. I love the Cuban culture, the music and the food. I love being less than an hour from Mickey. I love seeing the alligators -- so primevel and yet so majestic. I love the fact that 90% of Florida is cattle pasture and all the different breeds that are represented. I just call them Florida Cows. I love seeing mile after mile of orange grove and countless farm stands that are open year round. I love the fact that Florida is a mini-melting pot of former Yankees and have many New Yorkers who I now count as friends.
Ideally, I would love to have a place in the Gold Coast to come to in August and again at Christmas time, and keep my main retreat in Florida. But all of that is dependent on winning the Lotto, so I will just save my pennies for occasional trips North. I wonder if Uncle Nicks would ship Fed EX??????
7/19/10
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