A Florida Dream
I closed my eyes and in a whirlwind of blue and white, I stepped into the humidity of Orlando Airport. Cigarettes mixed with the humidity of the air in the taxi pick-up area reminded me of my childhood in China.
The Uber ride was short and quiet, and I took in the typical southern American landscape of big freeways and billboards. We turned into the JW Marriott compound, and immediately I noticed the change in scenary of manicured lawns and tropical gardens.
Not having done much research, I had no idea about the scale of this place which will be my home for the next four nights. My room faced the pools, and there was a giant waterslide the scale you’d only see at waterparks. The golf course stretched further than my eyes could reach.
After taking care of some emails, I went to investigate the property. I walked along the lake towards the Ritz-Carlton, which was the sister property adjacent to the Marriott I was staying. I asked myself why I didn’t bring sandals if I knew I was coming to Florida.
Along the lake were signs warning pedestrians of alligators. What kind of alligators would live here, I thought. It’s surrounded by an artificial environment of pools and golf courses. I guess that’s Florida. I found a hammock and promptly climbed in it and fell asleep. When I awoke, it was almost dark. That’s enough for one day’s adventures.
The next day I switched to a room with a balcony. On the 21st floor, south facing, I caught the gentle sunrise for the rest of the mornings, and lingered in the room for as long as I could before I had to go about my business. The sun shined the entire week, and I tried to go outside as much as I could, not just because the AC was on full blast in the conference centre.
So like that I spent the next two days. Frankly, I didn’t like the grandness of it all. This used to be the wetlands, wasn’t it, now it’s all paved over. The difference in the class status of the hotel guests and the staff was obvious; I wondered what kind of money you’d need to make to be paying these rates on your own.
The last day I had some uninterrupted time to myself, so I went to lay by the pool, not having much else to do. Being typical US, without a car it was impossible to leave this hotel compound, so I had to just stay put by the pool.
I didn’t want to think about much, I didn’t want to judge. I was in my bathing suit by the pool side on a beautiful sunny day, and I was determined to enjoy it. I laid back and stared into the waving star-studded American flag at the top of the grand, coral-yellow coloured hotel building in the backdrop of the blue sky, and asked myself how I ended up here.
They call it the American Dream. This is indeed a land of manifestations. Doesn’t matter whether the dream is good or bad, small or big, noble or of self-interest, it can manifest beyond anyone’s imaginations.
Why Florida is the way it is today, I don’t know. Someone dreamed it like this. Grand entrance with indoor fountains, meticulously manicured golf greens, Michelin star restaurants, valet parking and the perfect spa, poolside cocktails and big waterslides, freeways and theme parks. It feels excessive and decadent, but that’s the way they like it here.
I didn’t want to venture to ask myself it this is the life I wanted to lead. Is this what I am striving for? I didn’t want to go down that road because I didn’t want to think at all.
Instead, I just closed my eyes and focused on my breath, the warm sun and gentle breeze making contact with my skin.
Another whirlwind it was after which I opened my eyes again in my lovely apartment. The grayness of the airplane interior, wet tarmac of the Montreal airport, the white clouds and blue sky, the silouettes of the islands passed me right by.
The headache that accompanied me during much of the transit magically went away after touching ground at home. I felt ecstatic that I was able to walk outside again, eat non-CAFO meat again, and drink real coffee again.
But why is it that now, only a few hours after the dream was over, the only thing I seem to recall at the thought of Florida is the warmness of the sun, the blueness of the sky, and the gentle humidity of the breeze?
