My parents were supposed to leave on the same Friday morning we did, stopping in Vicksburg, MS for the night, then driving to the beach on Saturday. But my father got stuck at the office on Friday, so they drove straight through on Saturday. They beat us to the beach by a few hours. It's slow going with a two month-old. My parents initially wanted to make the drive together so they could see the kids, and potentially help us traveling with them. But it probably was for the best. We did manage to meet them for lunch in McGee, Mississippi on Saturday. We stopped at what looked like an old Sonic drive-in that had been converted into "Bumpers". The kids were screaming, we needed to stop and we hadn't seen anything better than a Jack in the Box for miles. The pictures on the menu looked delicious, so we decided to eat there. Meme and Grandpa showed up and we all sat down. We ordered burgers and a hot dog for Jackson. The hot dog was hot pink. Before we could decide if we should get him something else, he shoved most of it in his mouth, sans bun. The pink dye covered his lips. We only hoped he didn't get food poisoning. We said our goodbyes and piled back in the car. Five minutes down the road we passed a plethora of quality, reasonably priced restaurants. But on the bright side, Jackson didn't get sick, and we kept on our way.
Our driving routine, on average, consisted of driving for two hours and stopping for 45 minutes. Naomi started sleeping most of the night almost right away, but the daytime is a little different. She eats a lot slower than we were used to with Jackson, sometimes taking over an hour to eat, then she's hungry again in an hour and a half. Though, being forced to stop every few hours actually worked out okay. We just accepted that it was going to take that long, and none of us had to sit in the car for long stretches of time. Most enjoyably: Jac
kson.
He would be happy as a clam watching his dvds on the strapped-on, flip down portable dvd player we rigged up. Then Jackson and I would run around whatever parking lot or empty field next to the gas station where we stopped while Alana fed Naomi. It actually made it easier on everyone. This also worked out well with Jackson's potty training, as well as exposing him to the colorful range of freeway bathrooms this country has to offer. A few times we stopped at a mall, which was quite handy to our situation. Even the one in East Jackson, MS on the way back.
We made it to the beach Saturday evening, piled most of our stuff on carts and took it up the elevator to the 16th floor.
I was born in Pensacola. (Perdido Key is a barrier island off the coast of Florida and Alabama, about 15 miles southwest of Pensacola. Both parts of Escambia County, but are so close in proximity that Perdido Key is commonly considered part Pensacola. So much that the mailing city of PK is Pensacola.) I moved away when I was about Jackson's age, but we always went back to visit family and go to the beach. Almost every summer and Christmas from the time I was three until I was about 15. My memories of Pensacola are very fond. This was the first time I had been back since my grandmother died in 06, and the first time I'd been to the beach since I was about 20. Finally. We planned to take Jackson last summer, but decided against it due to the oil spill. I didn't want to risk taking Jackson if there were oil and harmful fumes on the beach. From what I heard, the clean-up crews did a good job and made it not so bad. As well, I wanted to go last summer and see my Great Aunt Nome before it was too late, which it turned out it was when she passed away earlier this year. We went to Colorado instead and had a wonderful, relaxing time with my Aunt Lokken. My Aunt Nome, who Naomi is named after, had been sick for a very long time. I hadn't see her in 15 years and was very torn about the decision. Even more so after she passed. But honestly, a part of me is glad I remember her how I do. An amazingly kind and gently spirit, full of life, who lived a full life on this Earth. And this year at the beach was perfect with the two kids and my parents. Nome's children Hope, Buddy and Bill came over with Bill's wife, Vicky, and met Jackson and Naomi. It was wonderful to see them again, and wonderful for them to meet our kids. Especially sweet Naomi.
We also spent time with my Uncle David and wife Kat who live in Perdido Key, just a mile or two from where we were staying. (Lokken and David are my dad's siblings. Aunt Nome was my mom's aunt; Bill, Buddy, and Hope, her cousins) They brought over Royal Red Shrimp the first night we were there. The second night, they went out with my parents and Alana and I stayed home with the kids. The third night we went to their home for an incredible seafood feast, then went to a local seafood restaurant the following night. One of my fond Pensacola memories is eating fresh gulf seafood every night. (This is why I can't understand why some people don't like seafood!)
The days started with relaxing over breakfast and coffee. Taking care of the kids then getting ready for the beach. Alana's friend from college, Sheri, who now lives in Birmingham, AL came down on Sunday and stayed a few days. We rotated Naomi duty in the condo, but it was largely Alana, Sheri and my mother. Alana did bring Naomi down to the beach a few times, and she was able to have some no-kid beach time and enjoy herself. Alana and I pretty much stuck to our summer duty: Alana took care of Naomi, I took care of Jackson. Jackson had so much fun at the beach. We weren't sure how he would react, but had a pretty good idea: He would love the sand, and love to look at the water, but would be timid about going in. Then once we took him in and held on to him, he would get used it, and be swimming around by himself, playing in the waves and having a ball. Which was spot on. It's amazing how well you know these little guys when you raise them, and more amazing still how much they constantly surprise you. So smart and funny.
One day, I was hanging out with Naomi in the condo while Jackson took a nap. They both woke up and I got them ready to head down. Alana came up to help me, and on the way out, both of us forgot something inside. I stayed with Naomi in the hall while Jackson was at the elevator. Then I went inside, and when I came out Alana said wide-eyed "Where's Jackson?" He usually does pretty good about waiting for us, especially in this hallway when there's not really anywhere to go except the elevator. But he was around a corner, and when Alana and I were fetching our forgotten items, he called the elevator, got in and went down. Alana went all the way down one elevator, out to the pool, came back up the other elevator. Still no Jackson. I urged Alana not to panic and we went down the elevator, stopping at every floor from 16 to 4, calling for Jackson. Finally, someone yelled "He's down here!" A sigh of relief, and we went to the ground floor. We expected Jackson to be upset and scared that he lost us, but he was jumping and laughing with a group of young kids he found. Turns out, Jackson went down one floor from 16 and two ladies with a group of kids got on. Can you imagine the elevator door opening and finding a three year old boy alone inside? They thought it best to keep Jackson close until his parents found him. They got to the ground floor and saw the elevator cue stopping on every floor coming down and figured it was us. I gave him the big hug/"you can't do that!" and thanked the ladies. Jackson then promted us to "Come on!!" "Come on kids!" and marched towards the beach. He stopped and held the iron gate open for everyone to pass. "Thank you," one of the ladies said, grinning. "You're welcome," Jackson responded. Constant surprise. He's not even three.
We spent four days sitting on the beach, swimming in the Gulf and drinking beer. It got choppy and cloudy a couple times, as is normal, but mostly it was the typical shallow, cool, crystal green water. The water is also very calm, especially in the morning, which attracted a wide population of fish, as well as blue crab, hermit crabs and electric rays (which I had never seen in all my years at this beach) It made snorkeling especially enjoyable. There were jellyfish one day, but they were gone the next. Mostly gone. I was snorkeling for shells at the shore, looked up and a jellyfish was about 6 inches from my mask. I leaped out of the water, and it was out of sight within a minute. Strange creatures jellyfish are.
One day, Alana, my dad and I took Jackson to the Naval Aviation Museum on the Naval base in Pensacola. I always enjoyed going there as a kid, and it was special to be able to take my son. He hooped and hollered about all the airplanes, and enjoyed it as much as I remember enjoying it. It is a wonderful museum if you are ever in the area. We stopped in the gift shop on the way out and I bought a few items, one being a Navy coffee mug. I got home and peeled off the $6 price tag to read "Made in China". I wrote a letter to the head of the museum.
Jackson probably won't remember much, if anything, of this vacation. Naomi certainly will not. But we definitely will. It was our first vacation with our two kids, and it was incredible. We all had a really great time with each other, and everyone left feeling so. The drive back was a little rough as we all just wanted to get home. Naomi most of all. She screamed for the majority of the last couple hours of the trip, as if she knew we were almost home. She didn't want to eat, she didn't need a new diaper, and she had slept more than she cared to. As soon as we got her out of the car she was happy. Jackson howled and ran around the house, finding all the toys he hadn't seen in a week. Alana and I picked up burgers, put the kids to bed, and left the unpacking for the morning. Such a wonderful vacation. And 10 lbs of straight-off-the-boat gulf seafood in the freezer to help us enjoy it a little longer.
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