Florida

Florida was everything I wanted it to be. I drank Cherry Limeades from Sonic every day, laid out and worked on my tan almost every day, and read 5 books. I met a pop star's grandma (she lives next door to my aunt and uncle). I had dinner with my aunt, uncle, and cousin almost every night, and I haven't eaten so well in a long time- homemade mac and cheese, vegetable paella, fresh fruit from the farmer's market, fresh-squeezed orange juice from the oranges in my uncle's backyard... it was amazing. I did not wear my favorite flowy skirt (I couldn't find it before I left!), but I did buy some cute new shoes from Dillard's that I wore on New Year's. Also, I did not do shots of Patron and make out with random boys. But I did do a shot of something else (for Tim; I did the same thing last New Year's right after I found out he died), and I had offers from a few boys; I was just not interested. I danced, too, which everyone knows is rare. I was grinding with my cousin, Amber... how embarrassing.

It got really cold my last day there, but that was all right- it meant we could see the manatees at Blue Spring State Park! The manatees usually live in the St. John's river, but when the water gets too cold, they go in the spring, which is warm. Even when the manatees aren't there, it's beautiful. But it's so amazing to actually see the manatees. They don't really do much; they just lie there and come up for air once in a while. Sometimes they move to try to get in the sun. But there's something adorable about them. And this time, there were mamas and babies! So cute!

I love the manatee because I identify with them- they are big, slow, and get taken advantage of. They are my favorite animal.