Home is not where I left it.

A few years ago my folks sold my childhood home - a smart move given the size of the house, the upkeep it needs, and their desire to downsize and travel. My question is this:

Why in the hell did they have to move to a place that is SO cold?

My first night there the thermometer bottomed out at 0 degrees, Fahrenheit. Translation, MINUS 18 degrees Celsius. WTF?

I know I'm a wimp now that I live in Florida. Ok, fine. I'm good with that, "Hi, my name is Karla and I am a cold weather wimp!". It was about 75 degrees the day I left home, only to arrive in the frozen tundra of the north to over a foot of snow on the ground and subzero temps. My first flight was delayed causing me to miss the last flight of the day to the Podunk town my folks now live in. I am stuck trudging through snow in my loafers sans socks to the courtesy van to the hotel since the airlines kept my luggage hostage. Thankfully though, my room was paid for by the airlines because the delay was mechanical and not just weather. I felt very fortunate as I saw other folks stuck sleeping in the airport. The king sized sleep-number bed with the fluffy down comforter and a 6-pack of pillows helped me fall into a deep slumber. It turns out to be my best night of sleep the entire week given the double bed in the guestroom where I tried to sleep the rest of the week.

But wait, it gets worse. In an effort to check in at the office (I know.. I'm lame for doing so, but really it'll make my life so much easier when I get back) I head to my mom's computer. I see the icon.

Dialup!

Seriously? Come on now Mom! Join us in the millennium! Go for broadband, or cable. I had fond memories when I heard those dial tones but the nostalgia faded when it took no less than 2 minutes to load ANY page I tried to access. Dialup? Yikes. I must say, after that it was a lovely 5 days without checking email. No spam. No stupid joke messages or forwarded chain letters to delete.

It was 10 degrees this morning when I left for the airport at 4am and 78 when I landed back in Florida. My recent musings about missing cooler weather have been stifled. I figure I'm good for another 3 or so years before I start to miss the snow again.

I return home to friends happy to see me, a wiggly beagle, a beautiful sunset over the Gulf of Mexico, and my glorious bed waiting.