Reclaiming a Beloved City
Written by Deborah Brauser

I came home earlier this month from a business trip to Orlando, Florida – a location billed as, according to the PR folks at Walt Disney World, “the happiest place on earth.” But I have to admit I had been excited yet worried about returning to the town I had lived in for 7 years.

From: Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc.

You see, this was my first visit back since moving away from there after someone very important to me passed away in a car accident 4 years ago. And my memories of the last few weeks before the move were full of sadness.

So I was a little nervous about seeing sites again that we had often visited together. Would this be a trip full of tears or one that was ultimately uplifting? After all this time, I was ready to find out.

“B.B. King’s at Pointe Orlando on I-Drive”

And… it ended up being wonderful! I walked around areas that I had enjoyed before, including the whole touristy-but-fun International Drive area full of themed restaurants, souvenir shops, and crazy attractions; rode by the convention center and business hotels where we had often worked together; and watched the fun at SeaWorld, which was located right across from the hotel where I was staying this time and which houses Manta — our favorite roller-coaster ever.

I also decided to check out some new-to-me places, to make some new memories. This might sound surprising coming from someone who now lives in a land-locked state, but I LOVE the ocean and spending time on a beach. And because I had never been to Clearwater Beach, on Florida’s Gulf Coast, I booked Gray Line’s “Beach Bus” for transportation service from Orlando and back.

I made the reservation for Tuesday morning and of course it began to rain furiously starting on Monday afternoon. All day Monday I was miserable. My work conference ended early that day, I had to change hotels to one that was over-run with young kids full of pent-up energy because they couldn’t really get outside or to the theme parks, and all of the things I had wanted to do would have involved sloshing through flooding lots. So I felt stuck in my very noisy room watching dark skies and angry, sideways rain.

“No hotel is much fun in the rain, even if it is Disney’s Pop Century Resort”

Oh, and we were alerted at one point that there was a tornado watch! I of course did the sensible thing and went to bed early, pulling the covers over my head and wishing for better weather the next day. And you know what? That’s not what I woke up to.

The rain was still coming down in the morning and the skies were still dark. But I was determined to make my beach trip anyway, throwing an umbrella and rain poncho into my bag along with flip-flops and a towel.

I then caught the Beach Bus (actually a mini-van packed with 15 passengers) and promptly slept for most of the 2 hour trip over to Clearwater Beach. I woke up when I heard the driver laugh and holler out, “well, look at that! It’s gonna be a nice day after all.” Yep, blue skies and sunshine were starting to break through the clouds and the rain had stopped completely.

By the time we were let out at Clearwater Beach’s Pier 60 area, it was a gorgeous yet chilly day. The chill eventually burned off and the rest of the time was full of warm sand, the sound of the ocean’s roar, and happy voices of other tourists around me.

The capper to what ended up being a lovely day was a meet-up that night at Jeff’s favorite restaurant with friends who knew us both. And instead of being sad, it was an easy evening of laughter, good food, and fun.

Overall, I left Orlando feeling lighter – like it’s okay for me to reclaim this wonderful city I used to love. It’s no longer just a place full of sad memories but of memories of a time that was very special to me. And it’s a place ready to provide more adventures the next time I visit.

Is there a place you’ve dreaded re-visiting? What would it take to get you to go back there?

Deborah Brauser is a full-time freelance medical and travel writer. Clients and publications include Medscape Medical News, WebMD, The Oncology Nurse, Southern Hospitality, Traveler, and Orlando Attractions Magazine. Her travel blog is located at: http://TravelBrowsingWithDeb.com .