I recently resolved to visit Tallahassee and my grandsons Liam and Luke, four times a year- during each season. Spending time with them is a top priority, but there is also the advantage of experiencing the seasons, which we don’t have in Miami.

For this Spring, I booked my trip during Springtime in Tallahassee, an annual celebration in the capital town. There are all kinds of events taking place during the week (including a recipe contest and cook-off I was once in) but I picked it because I figured it would coincide with the spring flowers blooming at full peak. So I circled the date on my calendar and didn’t let luxe Birthday parties or Pickleball invites deter me from my visit.

Unfortunately, I missed the peak of spring’s flowers by about a week or two. The azaleas were blooming, but some had already fallen off the bushes. Some colorful camellias (also known as the Southern rose) were still blooming on the trees, which was surprising because they usually bloom around Christmas.

The day after I arrived it was overcast and a little gloomy looking. I went to see Liam in a soccer game- the first one he participated in- so that was fun. He was a little shy about his first game, but they let the parents go out on the field with them, so he was fine. We were all hungry so went to Waffle House for breakfast and I have to say they have a darn good Pecan Waffle! And then we went to the Farmer’s Market, Walmart and home.

I snuck out for a walk Sunday, while everyone was sleeping. The weather was decidedly iffy- a little misty, which turned spritzy, which turned into a sprinkle. At this point, wishing to keep my blow-dried hair intact, I ducked under a canopy of trees to avoid the sprinkles. The sprinkle increased to a steady rain, which then turned into a downpour. The saying “April showers bring May flowers” rung in my head, but it wasn’t even April yet!

I texted Christopher, then called him to come and rescue me from my hiding spot, which happened to be across the street from my sister Kelley’s old house in Golden Eagle. No answer and as it got heavier and heavier, I resigned myself to the fact my blow dry was ruined, the rain wasn’t going to let up and I needed to start walking home.

Besides my hair, I was also worried about my electronics.

My Apple Watch (which I think is waterproof) was probably ok but I also had my Iphone and my Beats Solo headphones to consider. I tried sticking my phone in my pants and my headphones under my shirt, as I made my way to a shelter by the pool. The phone kept slipping down my pants, so I stuck it in my bra, which was totally soaked. Once I got to the pool cabana, I dried off my electronics with paper towels and found some clear plastic in a storage shed, which I wrapped around them. I felt very MacGyver-ish. I tried calling Christopher again. No answer, so I set off to walk back home.

By this time, I was thoroughly soaked- from my plastered-down hair to my soggy socks and squishy running shoes. I looked like a drowned rat and was probably quite the sight, with my head covered with plastic-wrapped headphones, because I continued listening to my podcast in the rain. An old guy in a little sports car stopped and asked me if I wanted an umbrella. I laughed and told him I was so drenched at this point it didn’t matter and was almost home.

I entered Chris and Courtney’s home. Courtney was in the kitchen with Luke. She thought I was napping because my door was closed (to keep the dog from going on the bed). Christopher was still sleeping! He has always slept soundly since he was a baby and when he finally woke up I told him I’m lucky I wasn’t getting attacked because he never answered my phone call. I took a long hot shower and blow dried my own hair.

Courtney is a nurse who works 12 hour shifts three days a week. Luckily, she was off on the weekend while I was there, but on Monday, they both went back to work and I was left to my own devices. I did a little shopping for Easter outfits for Celine, had soup and a half sandwich for lunch at Hopkin’s Eatery (one of my old favorite spots) and visited Maclay Gardens.

I did see some beautiful spring flowers blooming at Maclay, but the reflecting pond and surrounding area was closed for a wedding. As I heard Pachabel’s Canon starting to play to signal the start of the wedding, raindrops started falling on my head and I hightailed it back to my car. Luckily, I made it back this time before it really started raining, but I did feel bad for the wedding.

On the days Courtney works her 12-hour shifts, Christopher picks the kids up from school, brings them home, feeds them, bathes them and puts them to bed. I suggested to Chris that we go out to get Chicken Wings, something we used to do when we lived in Tallahassee, but the idea of taking two toddlers out to dinner didn’t sound appealing to him, so I bought chicken wings at Publix instead and Christopher made them in the air fryer. They were good.

In this household, they eat in shifts when hungry, so the kids were eating pizza on the kitchen floor when I entered. You know that expression of “meeting people where they are”? I took it literally and sat down on the floor with them to eat my chicken wings and fries. A Gigi’s gotta do what a Gigi’s gotta do!

My visit wasn’t perfect. I got into a heated political discussion with my son Christopher (we are on opposite sides of the political spectrum) and stormed out of the room into Liam’s, where I was staying. Christopher came in, apologized and said it wasn’t worth it to ruin our relationship over politics. I agreed.

“Give me a hug Mom,” he said.

And I did and that was that.

I left Tuesday- on the road again to Miami. I’ll see them again in a couple months in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. While I love Tallahassee in the Spring, Fall and Winter, I can do without it in the Summer! And so it all begins…

Yeah, I think I’ll make me some homemade soup, I’m feeling pretty good and that’s the truth It’s neither drink nor drug induced, No I’m just doing alright And it’s a great day to be alive I know the sun still shines when I shut my eyes There’s some hard times in the neighborhood, But why can’t every day be just this good?

Travis Tritt

Up Next: Bye bye black plastic!