Chapter 1, Part 9 - The Drive Down

Mom and Dad’s favorite ritual on the drive to Florida is to stop at the Florida Welcome Center just inside the Florida state line for a free cup of orange juice. It makes them feel like they’ve actually arrived at their destination, even though they are headed to South Florida several hours away. But it is one of those traditions that anyone who does regular car trips would understand – it is just something they have to do each year. A few more hours on the road and they pull into their winter home – Harbor View Condominiums of Florida, home of 10,000 former citizens of other states – 9,998 of whom are over the age of 55.