Navigate to
Trip Start
Oct 16, 2007
1
45
52
Trip End
Dec 16, 2007
Waterford,
Michigan,
United States
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Driving to the airport a falcon flew over with a bluegill shaped fish hanging from it's talons. A common but, nevertheless, always exciting sight. Before I left the base I went for a hot dog at the golf course and to say adieu to the resident manatee. She wasn't as accommodating as the pair at my other favorite viewing site had been the day before. We weren't certain what they were doing but we all agreed that the show they put on was one of the most exciting any of us had every seen. The young were climbing on their mom's backs and all of them were surfacing and rolling to the point I was ready to call it breaching
Up Close Delta and Atlas
! Last night my replacement, David - a Floridian from the other side of the state - and I walked the beach for over an hour; We got so caught up in conversation that we went a little farther than we had planned and had to feel our way back in the dark! We did find his shoes and managed to catch not only the sunset, but also flashes of lightning in the clouds resting just above the horizon. The beach had returned to normal after a weekend of excitement when, over Easter, Ron Jon's hosted a beach party. Thousands of people walked the beach and it was inhabited by surfers, bikini babes, kiters, kids, families, and couples enjoying one of the nicest days since my arrival. Not only did I get my picture taken with the Geico gecko - I will never put that picture on this website! - but I ended up sunburned! I picked up two high school students from Michigan and made their day when I asked where they went to college. They were having the time of their lives on their first trip to Florida for spring break - with their parents. Of course, I went to the beach without my camera so none of this - except me and the gecko - were captured on film. I have never seen so much jewelry adorning places I would never have imagined could be pierced AND tattoos not to be paralleled. I find it interesting getting the skinny on what side of the state, what beaches, and what bodies of water are preferred by the people who live here. I don't know how I feel about what location but this assignment has made me want to spend a couple months during the winter down here next to the ocean. It was rejuvenating and fun. Florida is beginning to look, "not so bad."
On the other hand, I won't be missing the traffic and the cotton tops
Hey there!
. I managed to maintain my cool and not do any major driving faux pas, but there certainly were a lot of accidents down here. Yesterday I watched a driver pull right into a cyclist. Navigating the aisles at Publix is just about as difficult. One certainly must carry not only collision insurance but personal injury as well.Although I will not admit the major faux pas that I did commit and I have sworn my niece Tracey to secrecy (Tracey I am going for testing as soon as I return home and your payments will arrive the first of each month), I will tell you about my lovely but Cheesy Easter. After roaming the beach I headed to Port Canaveral where the cruise ships set out to sea. I sat eating Oysters, drinking Vodka and waving good bye to the cruisers ensconced on the Disney and Carnival lines as they sailed down the canal to began their adventures. I was also watching the Masters which made me want to play golf.
Now I return to the world of garage cleaning, deck washing, dog bathing, and sheet changing. Living in a hotel room isn't terrific especially when you climb 8 flights of stairs to find your key has stopped working (on several occasions). But when the staff call you by name to thank you for the fantastic dessert you brought them ("Grab the forks")
Carnival
. And when the other guests gather to celebrate young "Hunter's" recovery of your earring - his mom told me he could find anything -and watch as I hand him his reward,as well as, some very cool military information about the Atlas satellite he had watched earlier in the evening, it becomes like home. I'm going to miss that warm salt water pool as much as the beach walks and view. Thanks David for the lovely e-mail about the successful opening of Patrick AFB. It was a pleasure to turn it over someone of your competence.Well, the cars are operational - no thanks to the trickle charger - and all 127 pieces of the desk and file cabinet that have been setting in my entrance for 2 months are assembled ( Oh why do I do this to myself AND doesn't it occur to me that the coasters would work better on the outside as I am screwing them on?). MJ called me this morning to report that the male and female wood ducks were perched on the roof of their new home before the female flew inside. How does she fly into that small hole? And yes the lake is freezing. Martin house is still to be put up. BURR.
Matthew tells me he is happy to have his favorite neighbor home for awhile. He also asked me on the ride home from the airport If he could be the ring bearer when I got married
View
. I don't have a clue where that came from. I told him he would be grown up with his own family when that happened so it would probably be a better idea if he gave me away. He said he had to think about it but probably would be happy to do it. Andre has just started to warm up to me and clung desperately to the neighbors when they dropped me off and tried to leave. I'm home for awhile and working through my list of a hundred and 3 items while I have all of this enthusiasm. I did receive an email this morning asking if I would be willing to return to Lakenheath by special request next year. HMMM, spring and the horse races. Sound good to me.
Can't wait to see all of you!
Comments
Florida and Brenda....
Brenda, i enjoyed reading about your adventures in Florida, and not one mention of politics.... Where is the photo of Gecko? and you? I liked Mathew's promise to give you away when the time comes. Did i miss hearing about a new man? And the photos of ocean, birds, ships, and those incredible Florida sunsets. ahhhhhh. You make the best of any place, that's you. lucky us to follow along. Gary
Welcome Home
Add me to your list of things to do! I've missed you! Remember, I have you booked to Walk with me on May 3rd!