Cover_Jan 05 (Page 2) - The Parklander Magazine

‘Tis The Season
To Be Jolly
By Lois Malachowsky
Holiday time in South Florida.
Actually, it’s no big deal. The
words themselves don’t exactly evoke
mental images of snowy banks with
horse-drawn sleighs jingling bells as
off to grandma’s house we go. If anything,
it’s off to grandma’s condo for
a dip in the pool and maybe a round
at the mahjongg or bridge table.
Roasted Dickensian goose Please! Tiny Tim and the gang
would quickly admit that barbeque is better or going out
is best. But make sure to wear white slacks with a red top —
it’s de rigueur in SoFla. And yes, the restaurants are open,
especially on Christmas.
Florida celebrates “Season” — the period from a little
before Thanksgiving to a wee bit after Easter. Christmas
happens to fall into that time zone and so is an excuse to
hold even more galas, boat parades, parties, dances and
other festivities held regularly throughout Season, but at
a more frenzied pitch, if that is at all possible.
So, what is Season anyway Well, first of all, the
blue-haired snowbirds arrive, migrating from the dreary
regions of the North in Buicks to become the Early Bird
species inhabiting South Florida restaurants at 6 p.m. or
earlier. These gentle creatures are seen frequenting Butterfly
World, The Jungle Queen and other mild pursuits in sunny
South Florida, soaking up Old Sol and thoroughly enjoying
themselves. They remind us not to take our climate for
granted and to take a moment to enjoy a pretty day
or a great deal on a meal and some entertainment.
Then family arrives — for a couple days, a week or
two, maybe months. Sometimes we feel like we could give
the Hiltons or Trumps a run for their money given enough
resources and help. Other times we wish our visitors were
like Energizer Bunnies who keep going and going and going
instead of coming and coming and coming. Yet, being fortunate
to attract people into our lives means so much when
we all sit together at the end of the day to relax. We talk
about the times we’ve had and, when we’re suffering in
the summer months, bring out the pictures and fondly
remember some fun from last Season.
In mid-December or so, even the boats dress up and
go on parade: in Fort Lauderdale, in Pompano-Deerfield,
in Boca, in Miami, and on and on. Everyone knows someone
on the water and can finagle an invitation to watch one of
these spectacles. Then you go to the next, and the next and
by the time you hit the last parade you’re sick of the damned
bridges being in lockup position more often than not and,
by the way, isn’t that lady on the third boat out wearing the
same gold lame dress she sported on the last two parades
She’s probably about as tired of the whole thing as we are
but keeps partying on, as do we.
January comes and things settle into the “Seasonal Rut.”
After the New Year’s galas, we now become aware that gas
and food prices are up. We don’t dare go anywhere to get
away because the prices are worse than where we’re already
staying with hotel rates rivaling mortgage payments. We’re
wearing jackets, sweaters and boots while the snowbirds
are easily spotted in shorts and swim suits (brrrr!). This
is the time when the restaurants hike their prices and
they hover there until Summer Happy Hour deals prevail
(Early Bird specials notwithstanding, of course).
But fresh fruit is in season and plentiful — there’s
nothing more refreshing than taking a short, pretty drive
to the orchards to pick up some real fresh Florida orange
juice. And Plant City strawberries are simply to die for.
By Valentine’s Day, we’re into the mid-winter doldrums
like the rest of the world but it’s disguised by sunny skies
and whispering palm trees. Every place is crowded, even
the supermarkets. Traffic sets our teeth on edge. Tourist
dollars are welcome but tourist presence can get a bit grating
at times, even though we try to be gracious in trying situations,
such as following three cars from Quebec on I-95 traveling
40 m.p.h. all in a row — across. Road rage is rampant so
we grit our teeth and lock our cars and hope we don’t tick
anyone off too much. Forget the beach; maybe catch
a movie or two.
March is Florida’s autumn; leaves turn brown and fall
to the ground; so do coconuts, sometimes. The Early Birds
are eating home more often and some of the winter condos
are starting to be shuttered up as our guests start the
exodus home.
Finally, April — and Easter — and Season ends.
Whew! So, holiday time in Florida It’s no big deal,
actually. We get back to “normal” about May. Then
it’s our turn. Damn, it’s hot out. ● P
Lois Malachowsky is a freelance writer in Coconut Creek. E-mail her
at malachowsky@theparklander.com.
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