Later this morning, I’ll leave Miami behind—again. The city that raised me, shaped me, and held me through so many versions of myself. I’ve left before, always with a suitcase full of books and a heart full of ambivalence. This time feels different. Not dramatic, not cinematic. Just quietly significant.
There’s a strange ache in leaving a place that knows your rhythms. The way Biscayne Bay catches the morning light. The sound of Cuban coffee being stirred in a corner café. The breeze that carries both salt and memory. I’ve written many stories here—some published, some whispered only to the walls of my rented room. Miami has been muse, backdrop, and sometimes antagonist. But always home.
I’m heading to East Orlando with mixed emotions. Hopeful for stability. Hungry for creative renewal. But uncertain, too. Will I find the same quiet corners to write in? Will the breeze speak the same language? Will I feel known?
I don’t know. And maybe that’s okay.
What I do know is this: I carry Miami with me. In the cadence of my sentences. In the emotional architecture of my stories. In the resilience I inherited from my mother, who taught me how to laugh even when the plane almost crashes.
So here’s to the next chapter. To the boxes packed with books and the ones filled with memory. To the city I’m leaving, and the stories I’ll keep telling.
A Certain Point of View, Too 
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14 responses to “Leaving Miami, Again”
Safe travels, Alex. To the next chapter!
–Scott
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Thanks, Scott!
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I hope your move goes smoothly and safe travels.
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Alas, it didn’t go as smoothly as we hoped; had issues with the wheels on the trailer, so we had a one-day delay. I’m in East Orlando, though. And online, too.
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But you are almost there I assume
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I got here yesterday. Miami isn’t too far from here…4-5 hour drive.
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That is great. Carla, an amazing reader who writes a lot of book reviews all the time, said on my blog post “The Life of Jim Garraty” that she was interested in your book.
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I hope Carla’s interest results in either a purchase or reads on Kindle Unlimited!
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Yes me too, and if she does, she is likely to write a review.
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Good luck, Alex! I hope you find what you’re seeking!
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Thanks, Dawn!
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Good luck in Orlando, Alex. I hope everything goes well there.
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Best of luck in your new town!
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Thanks, my friend!
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