Leaving Florida

There’s no other name so glorious, all hail, Florida, hail!

Home of the happiest place on earth, Florida is always ranked in the top places to visit in the U.S. The beaches are amazing. The inland lakes and rivers are full of beautiful birds and wonderful foliage. You can swim in the ocean or the gulf almost any time of year.

I use to love telling people I’m a fifth generation Floridian. Most people think that everyone in Florida came from somewhere else. While many do, I grew up playing in an orange grove that my great grandparents owned. I swam in rivers with gators because I knew they really don’t want anything to do with us. I’ve fished on the St. John’s River and know how to put a hook right in-between roots of a mangrove without getting snagged.

My email address has the word Florida in it. Most people think it’s because I’m a University of Florida Gator fan, but it was really because I was proud of being from Florida. Notice I said was.

It started with hanging chads for me. Oh, yes, that 2000 presidential election where everything came down to Florida, and we failed the country. Florida was a running joke for years after that election.

Then there was Florida man. Ah, yes, so many times something crazy or weird happened, you just knew they were going to say it was in Florida. It got so painful being the butt of jokes on every comedy show. But whatever, right. I know there are still things to be proud of in Florida.

Florida man trapped in unlocked closet for two days.

Florida man attempts to use women’s underwear to comply with mask policy.

Florida man stopped while driving with an emotional support python.

Florida man busted feeding iguanas to alligator in jail zoo

Florida man stabbed with swordfish in fight.

But then bigger things started to happen. Yes, this is were I’m going to get a bit political. Florida has swayed back and forth over the years from democrat to republican and back again. We’ve had both democratic and republican governors. We’ve had our votes go towards democratic and republican presidents alike. I’ve always thought of us as purple, until recently. I have no problem living in a red state where I’m in the minority, but…