Personal Narrative: When I Went To Florida

By the time I woke up my uncle Joe said we are going to be there in 20 minutes. I was so happy when he said that! The traffic was horrible

Time. 10:19 p.m. South Florida. The traffic light rests at red for an eternity, mocking me with its condescending gaze. I quickly turned my head both directions, not a car in sight for what it seemed to be miles. Is this some kind of joke? Looking into the rear view mirror, nothing there by me. James Montgomery. Glasses, brown hair, green sweater vest, and an untrimmed beard. Some people say I resemble a young Robin Williams from Good Will Hunting. I’ll take that as a compliment. A journalist of ten years at the same section in the local newspaper. The only thing I’ve done differently in the time span is learn Spanish. With being in a Hispanic community, I thought it would be beneficial. Besides, it’s not like I’m in a hurry to get to

In August of 2013, my dad moved to Florida. For the longest time, he kept me in the dark about the issues he had with his money. He still has never told me directly that he was in debt; the only reason I know is because I overheard my sister talking to her boyfriend about it. He moved to Florida to manage a warehouse for his nephew’s beauty company, JacoSpa. He was offered this job multiple times, but he could not bear the thought of leaving his family in a state across the country. However, his current place of employment at the time was not successful, for it is half of the reason that he was in debt. He was a carpenter at a small company that would barely get a new project every other month.

Every night, 365 days a year the sun sets in Key West is a part of someone’s night. The light goes out, but the city is still awake. Everywhere in Key West there is either food, art, or someone showing off a cool talent. The hot humid days turn into cool humid nights. The stars and moon come out and dance to the music. The stuffy, gentle salty breeze chills me as the night goes on and goosebumps cover my arms as wind flows through my sundress.

Throughout my childhood growing up in Miami Fl, was an amazing experience, it’s unique variety of cultures spread through one city is absolutely mind blowing. Although there was one thing one my mind at all times. One thing I never experienced was living out west and getting away from the Miami life. Its kind of hard to believe someone would prefer living out west, in the middle of nowhere than along a beach shoreline. As a matter of fact, living out west had become one of my priorities when I was making my college decision. For some odd reason I have at all times wanted to be near a desert or spacious land unlike Miami and that’s why this picture really has an essential meaning to myself.

It was a rainy, gloomy afternoon, my sister and I were watching TV when we heard my parents talking to their friend about moving to Florida. My sister and I looked at each other with confused faces and asked each other if we are moving. Of course, we were clueless because my parents did not mention anything about moving to us. We asked my parents if we are moving and they said yes we are going to be moving to Florida. When my sister and I heard Florida, the first thing we thought was we are going to die from a tornado, because we thought Florida had a lot of hurricanes, earthquakes, and natural disasters. I didn’t want to move, I had a lot of friends in New York who I have known for almost all the 7 years of my life I have lived there and I loved making snowman’s and snow angels during the cold winters.

It was my seventh grade year. We went down to Florida for my sister’s senior year spring break trip. It was nice to have my parents, my sisters and me all vacationing together; we were sure to have a good time. We were staying at a resort in Kissimmee, Florida, a couple minutes away from Orlando. We had many activities planned, Disney parks, downtown Disney and my personal favorite: Cape Canaveral.

Being born and raised in Florida it was evident that I was going to experience some beautiful nature as a child. It never really occurred to me though how important nature is and how much of an affect it can have on a person. When I was younger my family used to travel down to the Florida Keys every summer to go fishing and snorkeling. I would look forward to this trip every summer because the drive down to the Keys enabled us to see all of Florida and that was always my favorite part. As I got into my teens though and started playing more sports my summers soon became filled with traveling around the state playing sports rather than fishing and snorkeling down in the keys. I feel like during this time my love for the beautiful State of Florida and all that it had to offer was slowly diminishing.

Last summer I went on vacation to Puerto Rico with my cousins. We did really fun things like snorkeling, a boat ride, and eating at many wonderful places. Although all those sound really fun, I want to talk about the time I met the most cutest, most fluffiest, most friendliest, animal ever.

It was a cold winter night in Upstate New York. My mom and dad were enjoying a cup of coffee, my sisters were playing video games, and I was editing a few pictures on my computer. My mom brought up the idea of a vacation. She said” We haven’t been on a vacation for a long time”. We all agreed and were hoping for my dad to also agree. Then my father said with a cheerful voice “Where do you guys want to go for vacation”. Me and my sister Rahma wanted to go to Florida, but, my other sister Selsibila wanted to go to California. Since Florida is closer and most of us agreed on going to Florida my parents said, “Ok then Florida it is” and we all ran to our rooms to pack up our stuff. My father quickly went on his computer and started looking for a rental. After we packed up all our stuff my dad said” Everyone go to bed, so we can wake up fresh in the morning and get the trip started”. So, we all went to bed. I can barely sleep thinking about all the fun were going to have. After about 15 minutes everyone was sound asleep and so was I.

My mom and and dad told me in December that we were going to Gulf Shores, Alabama to visit my grandparents.Gulf Shores is the southernmost town in Alabama, located on the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico. I have been there twice when I was little. I remember that I collected seashells and went swimming with Boppa in the pool. I felt happy that I was going to Alabama again. I like seeing my grandparents and I like that they are still there. I think the weather is going to be warm and I am thinking about having a fun time when I am there. I was very happy to hear my mom and dad tell me that I was going to Alabama.

I can still remember that gloomy sky on October 21st 2001. It seemed like a normal day to me, yet that day would change my life forever. I remember my mother rushing around the house trying to gather my brother’s clothes while I just sat on the floor observing so much commotion around me. For an 8 year old, I was a very hipper child. I ran around the house, climbed trees, sat on the roof top which was 3 floors high. I drove my mother insane ever since I was young. But not that day. My mother approached me with two of my favorite plush dolls and she said “you can only bring one with you. Pick one”. What did she mean?

After weeks of torturous homework, exams and assignments, high school was finally over! Summer holidays here I come! My family got plane tickets to Miami Florida. The land of beaches, sun and fun. We are heading to the airport in three hours. My little nine-year-old brother was jumping up and down like a kangaroo shouting “Los Angeles Los Angeles. “ I helped my father to put all the suitcases in the back of the Range Rover. I went and sat at the back with my twin sister and younger brother on my left. The sunlight through the window made my black hair look like honey. My eyelids felt like lead and I fell asleep. I woke up when we reached San Francisco Airport after that short nap, I was energized. We all put the suitcases on the two trolleys and walked to the check-in for first class. I glanced at my brown passport wincing at my 16 years old photo, being 16 was a nightmare! My whole face covered with acne, I had braces, a weird nerdy type of glasses and I was very skinny and short. Thankfully those days were behind, now standing at 5’9 with broad shoulders and toned six -pack. My metal braces were off and as for the acne, which was all gone thanks to the acne face wash. However, I still wore glasses.

An experience that was meaningful to me was the time that my entire family and I went to Disney from July 1st,2010 to July 14th,2010 it was such a great experience. Jumping with excitement the first time that I found out (Participle). It was going to be my first big trip with my mom’s boyfriend who is now my dad. This was a trip that was holding such a big surprise at the end of it.

It all started on a summer day, I went to nags head beach with my family. We got a big beach house with my whole family and a few friends. This was about 4 years but it feels like it was just the other day. We went at the very end of the summer. It was still nice and warm outside.