Let the Sun Shine: Florida Tourist Checklist

Deerfield Beach, FL, where we whiled away the early afternoon.

Here's what I liked today, in this order:

1. The deep, honeyed North Carolina accents and polite interactions in the airport shops when we changed planes in Charlotte. And the Body Shop vending machine--body butters at the ready!
2. View of ocean when starting our descent into the Fort Lauderdale Airport.
3. Tiny lizards outside the Subway sandwich store in Deerfield Beach.
4. The need to apply sunscreen--and the welcome scent of it.
5. Pretty, warm blue water to put my feet in.
6. People in swimsuits, and on surfboards.
7. The public parking lot [$3 for one hour].
8. Frosty piña colada at 4 P.M., with ocean view to drink in, too.
9. Figgy's and H.'s smiles--and mine, as we take a break from real life, far from home.
10. The still egrets we saw on the drive to Boynton Beach.
11. The wedding rehearsal dinner--Patrick and Lauren have so many nice young friends. I remember meeting Patrick--H.'s cousin's son--years ago on a Thanksgiving in Dumont. He was a little boy, and we've seen him a lot over the years. Lauren is lovely. The Italian food was fabulous, and the best man's wife is a pastry chef who made a beautiful red velvet cake and cupcakes.
12. The sunset.
13. Patrick and Lauren's apartment.
14. Knowing that Boca [where we're staying] has its very own Lilly Pulitzer store. I will sleep well just being in its vicinity.

But I have been up since 4 A.M. Positively exhausted now. Good night.