First Week in Florida

So before I begin, I feel the need to issue a disclaimer or a warning. I may swear, so if you're offended by cussing you probably want to stop reading now. I have now been in Florida for four days. Funny, in some ways it feels like I've been here much longer. in most ways however, every moment is some new experience or some reminder how out of my comfort zone I truly am and the ever present question in my head of WTF am I doing out here? Especially considering that within hours of arriving here, we were alerted to the impending hurricanes Laura and Marco. (They both shifted paths and missed here completely-But what a WELCOME TO FLORIDA!) So just a few things I'm learning rather quickly… For anyone who really knows me, they know that I am directionally challenged. Back in Utah, I could picture myself standing on the front porch of my parents house and I could determine north south east and west. Let me tell you, that doesn't work so well here. I've had a couple people suggest that I put myself in the direction of where The ocean is and then I will know which way I am headed. Yeah that would be a great idea if it weren't for the fact that I actually live on somewhat of an island and have ocean on both sides. Makes for a beautiful view but makes it pretty damn hard to know what direction I'm headed.I was driving home from work tonight and the only reason I knew I was headed in the right direction was because my car said I was headed west, and I knew that was the direction of my apartment. My ex-husband Jason, could find his way to and from anywhere and could also give people directions to anywhere based on the location of a maverick gas station.I thought about trying that because you can't throw a rock here without hitting a waffle house, a tattoo place, or a liquor store or a Winn-Dixie grocery store(isn't there a country western song that says something about Winn-Dixie)? The only problem with that idea is that not only are they everywhere but the road system here it's not as well marked as back home and you don't know that you're onto a turn or street until you're passing it. So I'm finding myself eating a lot of waffles while drinking a bottle of tequila and getting a new tattoo. If you've never been to a Waffle House, you are missing out! I don't eat waffles right now but I can get a double burger for $2.00 and it is actually pretty edible. The waitress and I are getting to be pretty good friends. Oh and another thing about driving out here, speed limits signs are just decorations. People don't even consider them "suggestions", they just ignore them completely. The traffic travels at easily 20 miles above the limit in most places. I drive on a 4 lane highway and on I-10 to get to work and it is a 45 mph limit most of the way. If I am not doing 65 mph, I am getting run over. I'm ok with that, I hate driving slow, but you can tell I'm from somewhere else because I actually slow down when I see a sheriff. And everyone calls me Maam'.I realize it is just polite manners to them but Holy shit it makes me feels old.I had a conversation with a young man at the Winn-Dixie tonight and he called me Maam' and I told him it was ok not to call me that. We literally had one of those movie conversations where he apologized for calling me Maam' and then finished up the apology with...you guessed it...Maam'. I don't think this is something I will have any luck getting away from. I guess there are worse things I could be called. Today was my first day in one of my stores. Alot of things came back to me from when I worked for the company before so that is good and helps to not feel completely overwhelmed.I am hoping that as I start to get into the schedule and pattern of the new job, that the transition to being here, alone, and so far from home and the people I love, that I will begin to feel more grounded.In the meantime, I will keep taking walks, taking pictures, and be happy when I can actually get where I'm going with less than 2 wrong turns.