Look who I saw on my morning walk this morning in Haulover Park walking path parallel to the beach.
I’ve been walking that same path every morning for almost ten years now. It’s part of my Florida routine—I get up early, go out on the balcony to check the weather, cross the street to walk in the beautiful Haulover park walking path.
In the quiet of the early morning, I am greeted by the sound of waves and seabirds waking up with me. Over time, I’ve gotten to know the regulars: the many feral cats that dart across the path like they’re late for something, the sunbathing iguanas who refuse to move, the noisy seagulls arguing over breakfast, the graceful pelicans hanging near the fishing boats, and the ever-curious squirrels who seem to have their nose into everything and actually try to beg for food( too many people feed them).
But here’s the funny part—in all those years, I had never seen a raccoon. Not once! Until this morning when a little masked face appeared right in front of me.
We both froze, just staring at each other like, “Wait, you live here?” It was such a small, random moment, but it really startled me. Ten years of daily walks when I’m in Florida, and the first time seeing a raccoon on this path ( I have seen raccoons in Florida)
It’s funny how nature still manages to surprise you—even when you think you’ve seen it all. That’s one of the reasons I love these morning walks. There’s always something new waiting along the way, if you just keep showing up.
