The Navy questioned his strength...but he looks quite healthy to me:
Nick gave me a wonderful gift this weekend: he watched Nathan and Nia so I could take a trip to Pensacola and visit Kyle! It is approximately an 8 1/2 hour drive from our place to the Navy base, but to make the trip seem less daunting, Kyle met me in Ocean Springs, Mississippi (just outside of the Biloxi/Gulfport area) on Friday night. We spent much of the morning on Saturday poking around in Gulfport--totally amazed by the destruction that remains two years post-Hurricane Katrina. It was evident that the storm washed away 'normality.' As we walked along the coast we found a spoon, a Janet Jackson tape, part of a vacuum, broken china dishes, a light fixture, a couch cushion, the head of a teddy bear, a ruined photo album, and an empty picture frame. Kids played there. Teens danced there. Families ate dinner there. Moms cleaned there. Friends played golf. The lawns were mowed. But now the coast seems rather void of 'life' and rather full of life's debris. It was sad...a little humbling, perhaps...to realize how quickly everything can be (literally) washed away. Kyle provided additional insight into the situation. He had walked the very same roads two years ago as part of the relief/restoration effort. That effort continues.
Kyle sits by what remains of a fireplace. Homey, don't you think?
I called these the 'stairs to nowhere'. The house on this property was missing, but the owners wanted to ensure that nothing happened to their pole barn.
The most common scene in Gulfport: buildings with destroyed main floors. Many houses would have been able to withstand the wind, but the flooding washed away buildings and severely damanged even the ones which remained standing.
In the afternoon we drove the remaining distance to Pensacola. A more appropriate name would be "Navy City", but no one asked me, and at this point, I think the name is rather established. Anyhow, Kyle showed me around the NAS (Naval Air Station...I think). What a beautiful place! The base is absolutely massive. We only explored the small section that Kyle calls home. I felt like the base had its own culture. All these people walking around in their various uniforms, maintaining the rather overdone military code (hats off in the library, no eating while walking, etc.), and speaking their very own language which includes words such as "muster," "NEX", "civies", etc. I'm not up to speed on base life, but I enjoyed my visit!
We went to the mall in Pensacola that evening. We walked around, stopped in a store every now and then, ate at Panera, and spent some time using the local wireless Internet to send some pictures to Dad and Mom. We were both totally exhausted that night and slept well!
Sunday was a short day together. I left Pensacola around 2pm so I would get home at a reasonable hour. In the morning Kyle drove us down to Pensacola beach (where I shot the video clip). The beaches are beautiful! White sand, aqua water, and not too many people! We ate lunch together at Applebee's and then said our goodbyes. I really hated to leave. We had a good time, and I remembered how much I miss living close to my brother. Maybe someday...
I'm going to try and sneak a nap in while the kids are sleeping. It's good to be home, too...I sure missed the 3 N's.
1 comment:
I'm glad your time with Kyle was good and that you made it there and back safely! That's a long drive to do by yourself!
Kyle does look good. Your mom told me he has been "released" from the medical hold and they think he will be able to move on and progress through the program ... that's very good news! :)
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