Floridiana

I'm about to leave this state for a while. By state, I refer not only to a federated state with its own flag, flower and slogan but to a state of being in which the blood has thinned to such a degree that any temperature below 70- in other words, time to put on a light jacket or sweater- induces colds, coughs and a general torpor. The state I am going to, California, is a bit hardier, the winds a bit cooler. So they say, so they say.

As a result of this imminent departure, I am thinking about things only found in Florida besides my entire New York emigre family and department stores which sell undiscounted short sleeves shirts in January. What have I come up with after a long season in Palm Beach County?

Umm. Malls, the whole yellow ochre lot of them. Ben's Kosher in Boca... wait, there's one in Long Island. How about this?



This place, this pale blue structure meant to evoke the sea, is typical of dream Florida, the one which lives in postcards and brightly colored picture books.