The Sunshine State–Not!

Maybe you think you’ve seen rain, but if you haven’t seen it in Florida on a day Mother Nature feels like showing off you haven’t seen rain.

First the good news. My mom, dad, sister and I are all together. That doesn’t happen often. We (along with my brother-in-law Jeff) got to spend time together and talk family stuff. That part of the trip went well.

The weather didn’t cooperate the way my family did!

It showered on-and-off through the late morning and early afternoon. Around 4:00 PM the heavens opened!

Maybe you think you’ve seen rain, but if you haven’t seen it in Florida on a day Mother Nature feels like showing off you haven’t seen rain. Between 5:00 and 6:00 Palm Beach International Airport saw 1.69″!

I fly home tomorrow. Hopefully not through this stuff.

One Picture Two Thoughts

Up north preps are underway for snow. Here in Florida we’re prepping for the low 80s tomorrow. Cruel. I know.

Up north preps are underway for snow. Here in Florida we’re prepping for the low 80s tomorrow. Cruel. I know.

Helaine and I went to dinner with my parents and friends of ours from Connecticut. We headed toward the Intracoastal and a restaurant called The Banana Boat. It’s seafood and casual.

“Geoffrey, everything’s casual here.” That was my mom when I asked if I had to change my shirt.

As always I brought my camera. The attached shot is what you see as you look alongside the outdoor dining area.

Two things of note –

1 – It’s January and boats are in-the-water. It’s warm here. I noted to Helaine it was humid then added I wouldn’t complain

2 -Look at all the lights out in the high rise buildings beyond the docks. It’s the height of the season. This is a prime location. If there’s no one there now… well it just shows how really awful the real estate market is here. It’s in much worse shape than Connecticut.

Tomorrow’s my folk’s anniversary. More restaurant food! I won’t fit in my suits when I get back.

Everyplace Has Something Unique

From time-to-time you hear the unmistakable sound of bird poop hitting the water.

I’m in Boynton Beach just west of Military Trail. Not long ago this was swampland. The communities that now fill the area were planned and executed. Little was left to chance. Within each is a Stepford-like level of conformity.

Yet even here at the condo where one unit looks like the next there is something unique! My parent’s condo complex features a single sprawling tree at the edge of a man made pond housing an amazing flock of egrets.

As long as I’ve been coming I’ve been heading to the tree. As my photographic skills get better I’m able to bring more of it online for you to see.

The tree is desolate during the day, but as sunset approaches the birds return. One-by-one they fly toward the tree changing direction at the last possible second to land into the wind.

Every night the tree is loaded with egrets. Mainly they perch silently with their head tucked into their feathers. From time-to-time you hear the unmistakable sound of bird poop hitting the water.

Sometimes a bird will shift position forcing his neighbors to shift as well. The tree gets busy and wings being to flap for fifteen or twenty seconds. Then it’s quiet again.

These three shots are long exposures with my camera on a tripod allowing me enough light to see the birds in the dead of night.

I photograph these birds every time I visit!

More Boynton Beach Birds

They don’t seem to mind my obsession with photography. They don’t know me well enough yet.

I can’t begin to tell you how happy we are with my mother’s progress, even over this very short period. Yes, she’s got pain and she’s taking medication but she’s managing and the pain is bearable. So far so good. She spent most of the day in the living room as my cousins and a few friends came by to wish her well.

By late afternoon I was ready to get out for a while so I walked the 90 seconds to the pond to visit my friends the birds. They don’t seem to mind my obsession with photography. They don’t know me well enough yet.

As luck would have it two young men came by with a bag of bread. The birds were going to be closer today.

Clicking on the photos brings a larger version.

Good Morning Boynton Beach

We headed to the Boynton Beach municipal beach first, then after sunrise down A1A to Boynton Inlet where a fisherman cleaning his catch attracted some pelicans who were interested in a sharing.

My schedule’s so screwed up now there’s nothing I can do to make it worse! With that in mind I asked my former Connecticut buddy “Big John” Fowler if he wanted to head to the beach to catch the sunrise. Like so many inland Florida residents he never goes to the beach.

We headed to the Boynton Beach municipal beach first, then after sunrise down A1A to Boynton Inlet where a fisherman cleaning his catch attracted some pelicans who were interested in sharing.

Here’s a feel for what we saw on this coolish morning. Click on a photo for a much larger view.

I’m going back to bed!

More Boynton Beach Birds

My dad said it would make a nice picture if they were flying. He walked in their direction until – poof – they were flying!

Two more photos from the birds of Boynton Beach.

True story–a group of birds were sitting near the bank of a small lake. My dad said it would make a nice picture if they were flying. He walked in their direction until – poof – they were flying! He’s got the magic touch.

The Birds Of Boynton Beach

There is a tree near my parents condo which is a magnet for birds

There is a tree near my parents condo which is a magnet for birds. Later tonight it will be filled with egrets. Right now there are just a few flying back-and-forth. The light’s bright so I snapped off a few quick shots.

It’s My Dad’s 83rd

My father is the Bill Gates of Boynton Beach. He teaches weekly computer classes to people in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. “Harold, you’re so smart,” is a common student-teacher comment. They’re right.

It’s my dad’s birthday. He is 83.

“I look in the mirror and see an old guy,” he said on the phone today, “but I don’t feel old.” Life has not passed my father by.

He only has one working eye. He wears hearing aids with varying success. Often his hands quiver like the paint mixer at Home Depot. With daily drugs coursing through his rebuilt circulatory system he is a miracle of medical science.

My father is the Bill Gates of Boynton Beach. He teaches weekly computer classes to people in their 70s, 80s and even 90s. “Harold, you’re so smart,” is a common student-teacher comment. They’re right.

We were kidding around on the phone when I said, “This is the most important birthday.”

“No,” said my dad. “The next one is always the most important.”

My Dad’s Offer

He’d probably be the youngest one there. I’m used to my students being in their eighties

The word is out. John McCain is not on the Internet. I know because I spoke with my dad last night.

“I’m sending an email to the McCain campaign,” he said.

“What are you talking about,” I asked. I wasn’t sure I really wanted the answer.

“He can come to my beginning computer class at the condo. He’d probably be the youngest one there. I’m used to my students being in their eighties!”

Is there anyone hipper than my dad? He’s the Bill Gates of Boynton Beach!

It’s That Uh Oh Email

There are 29 of them on a bus. Shoot me now!

My parents are on the road. They’ve joined a group from their condo complex on a trip to Branson, Missouri.

There are 29 of them on a bus. Shoot me now!

My mom called yesterday to tell us how nice the driver was and how good the trip was so far (five hours into a nine day trip). It’s a long way from Boynton Beach to Branson, with lots of stops to make.

This morning, my dad sent me an email:

Having a good time so far. I do not recommend bus travel. speak with you soon love Mom Dad

All this to see Yakov Smirnoff.

21st Century Fox

Oh how times have changed! Here we are visiting my parents in Boynton Beach, and here’s the scene on the dining room table this morning.

Three of us. Three laptops.

This is either a sign of a very hip and techno savvy family or a sign we’ve just fallen off the deep end. Your choice.

The Florida Difference

We went to pick up my father this morning. The hospital is done with him.

Hal, a volunteer, came to wheel him down in a chair. Hal has got to be as old as my dad. Isn’t this rolling exit a quaint tradition that can end?

Driving up and back from Boynton Beach to Boca Raton gave me a good chance to watch the Florida sky. It is definitely different than the Connecticut sky. Maybe I’m just more attuned to looking up because I’m a meteorologist, I’ll admit to that. But there is a difference.

Even with high humidity levels, the air here is mainly clear and the sky is mainly blue. Days that would feature haze in Connecticut don’t here.

Still, the real star of the sky is the clouds. They are white and puffy and well defined and tall. These are towering cumulus clouds – a term often seen in airport observations, but never so literally true as here.

Yes, these towering “Cu” produce the numerous thunderstorms found over the peninsula every day. It’s a fair trade. They’re amazing.

Into The Hospital

I don’t remember my father as an early kind of person. He is now – big time.

I went to sleep last night around 3:30 AM. My dad rapped on hard my door around 7:30 AM. He was told to be at the hospital between 9:00 and 10:00 and he was aiming for 9:00… maybe 8:45 AM.

He’s going to the hospital today though his procedure won’t take place until tomorrow. Today is a day for medicating. His angiogram uses a dye which is stressful on his already compromised kidneys. The medicine will reduce that stress.

It’s a 20 minute drive from my parents condo in Boynton Beach to the hospital in Boca Raton. I remembered this hospital from when I lived down here nearly 40 years ago. The area was less congested, more residential, but the hospital building is still intact and well kept.

Boca Raton is different now. We pulled into the valet parking area. A Rolls pulled behind us.

When you check in, you become a part in the massive hospital machine. Hopefully you’re getting the treatment you need, though that result seems ancillary. The hospital is just moving you through the system, in much the same way UPS moves packages.

We walked in and sat in a room where patients are admitted. Wrong room. A volunteer was called to walk us through the maze to the correct admitting room.

After a few questions my dad was led to an alcove screened off with a curtain. There are eight beds in this unit, though none but my dad’s is in use right now as I type.

Two nurses walked in and began to prep my dad in much the same way Swift preps turkeys at Thanksgiving. They were fast and efficient – a well coordinated team. It only took a few minutes for my dad to give blood, get hooked to monitors and receive an IV drip.

While all this was going on his cardiologist walked in.

In our society, we encourage the brightest to become physicians. That’s a good thing. On the other hand, they often are not our most coordinated or athletic. That’s OK for diagnosis, but these doctors are also opening us up and sticking instruments inside our most vital organs. That part has always concerned me.

The plan is for my dad to have his angiogram around 7:30 AM tomorrow morning. Most likely that will be followed by the insertion of a stent.

I asked, and was told, bypass surgery (which my dad had 16 years ago) was an unlikely result. Of course bypass surgery is what worries us.

The nurse informs us that my dad’s room is ready and someone will be down to get him in a little while. His trip through the hospital machine has begun.

Enjoying My Folks

I called my folks on the way home from work tonight. My Bluetooth earpiece was already implanted and their phone was already ringing as I walked through the newsroom.

My dad answered. That’s pretty unusual. By 11:35 PM he’s is normally asleep.

His hearing is bad. His eyesight, in the single eye that still works, is pretty bad too. It takes more than a phone call to wake him.

As it turns out, he and my mom had just finished watching “Blood Diamond.&#185” I smiled because it was a Netflix selection, our gift for Father’s Day.

My folks have just returned to their Boynton Beach condo after a short trip to Disneyworld/Epcot Center.

This time of year, Central Florida is a steam bath. That made the trip more difficult and quite strenuous. They still had a great time.

I spent 10 minutes on the phone with my dad and then another 5 or 10 with my mom. We were laughing and joking and having a really good time.

My mom told me about the attractions they had seen and the roller coasters they rode. As it turns out, the roller coaster rides weren’t a conscious decision. They just didn’t know what they were getting into when they stood in line!

My parents don’t act their age. That’s what stuck out from this phone call. They are younger and more full of life than you’d expect if you knew their ages and nothing else.

A few years ago, I asked my dad if being 80 was what he imagined it would be. He said he’d never thought about it… until he was 79. I don’t think he minds.

Much like a small child, when you hit your 80s you’re allowed to claim the age you’re “almost,” as opposed to the age you still are.

You don’t turn old one day. It creeps up on you. It’s gradual and natural and is handled best by not fighting it. Easier said than done.

There’s no disputing the Foxes of Boynton Beach are having the best time of their lives. Imagine that. They’re still peaking!

If there’s anything I want to inherit from my parents, it’s their ability to appreciate life. Even at 56 years old I haven’t matured enough to relax and enjoy myself the way they do. Maybe I never will.

Having my mom’s wrinkle free skin wouldn’t be too bad either.

Blogger’s note: A year and a half ago I sat my parents down, one at-a-time, to tell the story of how they met. The video that followed is among my proudest achievements. If you haven’t seen it, take a few moments to watch it now.

&#185 – My parent’s thumbnail review. Very good. Too violent. Leonardo DiCaprio was very good. “You should see it Geoffrey.”

On Our Way To Florida

It seems such a shame. Now that it’s begun to get warm, we’re heading to Florida.

We haven’t seen my folks since late October, so this seemed like a good time. You’ve also got to add the fact that I’ve been ‘forced’ to use some vacation time or lose it.

As much as I like Southwest Airlines, our allegiance will cost us in convenience. The trip down to Palm Beach International will take around six hours, including a change of planes in Tampa.

I’m bringing my camera. For the first time ever Helaine and I are both bringing laptops.

I’m also bringing a small video camera. I have this idea about interviewing my folks and having them describe how they met, dated and married. The finished product will be a ‘video short’.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, my next post will be from Boynton Beach – land of decaf.