I fell in love with Gainesville, FL.  I spoke there last Friday at the annual meeting of the Central Florida District Dental Association.  Oh my, but Gainesville is really beautiful.  The doctor who was the program chair for the meeting, Dr. Gary Altschuler, is a periodontist.  He picked me up at the airport and drove me through the  University of Florida’s campus prior to arrival at the meeting location/hotel.  I had no idea how really beautiful this area is.  It’s SO, SO  different from other areas I’ve seen in Florida.  The campus is spectacular with huge live oaks (who knows how old some of these trees are) and sphagnum moss dripping from the trees.  I really love trees (after all, I’m a New Englander, I live in North Carolina now and I was “tree-deprived” when living in Dallas so long) and these live oaks were in abundance and spectacular … the moss only added to the impact.

On arrival at the hotel and once in my room on the 4th floor, I looked out the window.  The room overlooked an idyllic lake that was still and mirror-like.  Reflected in the lake were magnificent trees and vegetation all-around.  I asked if people swam in the lake.  My host responded, “oh no, there could be alligators … actually there’s one right there.”  I thought he was kidding, but I looked down and there was an alligator basking on a log right below my window! There was also a turtle on a log.  Later in the evening I saw the sun set with a brilliant rose shade on the horizon and with moss draping across my view like a Cezanne painting. 

The best part of Gainesville (and Central Florida for that matter) were the people.  They were warm, friendly, smart and down-to-earth.  Lovely.

Ahhhh, Gainesville.  It was a special pleasure being there.