Comments on: You Know You’re a Floridian If…

By: Meg

Meg — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:54:59 +0000

Over Thanksgiving, I was visiting my great aunt. While I was there, she kept trying to get ALL of us to put on sweaters. It probably was 66 degrees F outside. She was wearing robes and sweaters all day.

By: Monique

Monique — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:05:14 +0000

Absolutely true! The only exception to a Cat 3 not being worth waking up for is if you live in a trailer. Then, even a Cat 1 can do some damage.

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:48:02 +0000

Thanks for the info about the flamingos! I grew up in northern Florida (actually “southern” Florida) so we didn’t have the flamingos! Also, we dealt more with wilds boars than alligators! You didn’t mention them! And I had forgotten the sandspurs!!! Thanks, Anna Grace, for the reminder! Florida and sandspurs should always be mentioned in the same breath! And how about all the dead armadillos on the roads? I got to thinking about all the Christmases we spent going to the beach and playing football in the sand, and realized that Christmas isn’t snow and icicles. When I lived there, I thought it was. I now realize it’s what you make it — I have wonderful memories!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 19:24:03 +0000

Yes, these definitely are true! I love the one about the winter coat! I remember I totally froze my freshman year at BJ, and it was then that I went out and bought my first real winter coat–oh, and scarf and gloves. The part about using A/C on Christmas is true, too! Last year, I remember that it was warm, muggy, and rainy on Christmas. That made it a little hard to get into the Christmas spirit, but we managed just fine.:)

By: B.J.

B.J. — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:21:36 +0000

Oh how I laughed! I’m a native Floridian, too, and agree with these comments! Yup, I remember getting a tricycle for Christmas when I was three and a half, and immediately riding it down the street. In shorts of course! I learned to swim when I was only 6 weeks old, and was a fish ever since, until I moved out of state, and away from water. Had alligators waltzing all over the neighborhood, and even got to inspect one’s dental work up close, unfortunately, when it tried to take my foot off! Thankfully, I moved back quickly enough. And it was a small gator. Only about 4-1/2 feet. I lived near the Pithlaschascotee River. Try that one! And Florida IS part of the south, if you are not around the outer edges. Then, yes, just another annex of Michigan, Ohio, and New York!
Thanks for such fun memories!

By: Zina

Zina — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:26:54 +0000

I learned about the flamingos also in Sarasota but it was Jungle Gardens! I loved growing up in Florida. I also like the change of seasons just about anywhere else you live! Thanks for bringing back the memories.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:57:37 +0000

I died! It’s soo true! I was 12 when I first saw snow, it was in Atlanta, GA. Florida really isn’t part of the South, its the third peninsula of Michigan. Oh, and flamingos are pink because of their diet.

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:49:48 +0000

These are pretty funny, mostly cause they are very true!

I’m a floridian and Withlacoochee was one of my first words.

By: Anna Grace

Anna Grace — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:21:48 +0000

YES!! This is all true. And the flamingos are as pink as they are because they are given vitamins with beta carotene that turn them pinker than they are naturally. (I think I learned that on a 3rd grade field trip to Sunken Gardens in Sarasota. Our school also took trips to Disney World from time to time – it was less expensive 20 years ago! )

We didn’t have blacktop on our street – it was sand and shell, and we ran on it as kids. The only thing that bothered our feet some were the sandspurs at the beach. We became more faithful at the stingray shuffle after my sister got the point once. I do admit to feeding the seagulls from time to time. It’s fun when they take it right out of your hand. The trick is to do it at the END of your beach visit so you don’t have them circling you like vultures the whole time you are there. And always take food in packaging that doesn’t crinkle in the slightest. They can hear that for miles.

Thanks for the accurate representation!

By: Tammy

Tammy — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 01:13:11 +0000

Pretty good list!!

Love the one about snow!

By: Robin

Robin — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:55:56 +0000

As a NATIVE Floridian, I identified with EVERY item on the list – except for the pink flamingos. If there is another Floridian out there who can explain that one to me, please share!! Of course, back in the day, we didn’t even wear flip flops — a true Floridian can walk on blacktop barefoot and hardly notice! Thanks for bringing it all back – except the cockroaches. (And if there is anyone out there who doubts that one – you’ve NEVER lived in Florida!)

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:44:35 +0000

oh my goodness…as a Floridian I died laughing. I disagree with a few, but yes most of them are true. I do wonder if Mr. Loach can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee , Ichnatucknee, or Withlacoochee. And as for the weather, I’m freezing here in South Carolina. I broke out the knee socks and a jacket this weekend.