Sharks and Alligators

The other two B's and I are getting ready to head down to Florida. Jonny and I get down to visit my parents (in Baldwin Park, Orlando) and the beach I grew up loving (New Symrna) about every 3 months.

I know we'll end up living in Florida at some point, but the timing has just not been right (although Jon fielded an interesting offer from a small university in Daytona Beach just last month...)



I have a few things I'd like to do while we're there:
Get a haircut, Draw up plans for a backyard tree house with my Dad and Jon Sr, Take Jonny out on the tennis court with a child-size racket, Shop at the outlet malls with Mom, and do all the other typical stuff: Beach, Bike, Swim, Sun, etc.

The funny thing about "my Florida" is the number of questionable animals that lurk around our retreat. I grew up visiting my grandparents on Lake Berry. My brother and I learned to water ski, sail, and canoe in one of central Florida's typical alligator lakes. (I even took some of my first swimming lessons in Lake Berry!) Alligators lived and raised their families on the lakes just as human beings. There is even a spot on the lake we called "Alligator Alley" and we'd cry if someone would fall off their water skies near that stretch of the lake. The strangest thing? It never phased us!! When Jonny was an infant, I told my grandmother that I would never take him out on that lake... and yet I take him out every chance I get! I want him to experience sailing, canoeing, and swimming with an over sized life jacket swallowing his little head. I want him to catch minnows and avoid fire ants on the beach. The authorities say that Central Florida's alligator problem is well under control... and I'd rather encourage Jonny to experience life than make him sit on Grandma's back porch while the alligators get to have all the fun!