Dear Florida,
I stopped the other day and wondered to myself, “If you weren’t here where would I be? Maryland, maybe? Or California?” I pondered where people would retire or vacation. And then I realized those places can’t compare to you. So, I’m writing with urgency, because I realized in that moment, at the rate we are going you might not be around. We love you dearly and many of us are fighting really hard for you.
A group of friends and I went to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park the other day, and I must say this park is hands down my favorite. Between the coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove swamp, you have enraptured me with your allure. Your coral reefs were teeming with fish as diverse as your population. We even got lost kayaking in the tangled maze of your mangroves. We almost ran into an alligator, but with some maneuvering, we got out of there quick. It’s always something special when we can see an egret perched or a white ibis. Nothing truly compares.
When I wonder where I’ll be in the next ten years, I hope its here in my Sunshine State. With your vibrant seascapes, wild mangrove forests, and beautiful wildlife, we all know there is none like you.
Love, Olivia
