Driving down this road at Navarre Beach means a lot to me. The smell of salty sea air...sand and shells...wind...! Some familiar places and a lot of not so familiar places, after Hurricane Opal (1996) wiped out the family condo and (for the most part) flattened the beach and took everything with her... it's very different from when I was a child! Still beautiful, but all I have left of the "familiar" are my senses and my memory...I am so thankful for both!
Hurricane Opal, man...
that bitch! Ha!
Whoops...did I just say that?
Yep, a part of my life that was so different from the life that I have lived for the past 20 years...very different...neither a good different or bad different, really...just different...! Funny how we permanently attach ourselves to places and things that were only temporary...
I was 29 when Opal hit...it was like a death in the family to me! Kayla (my daughter) was 5, Tripp (my oldest son) was 2...too young to remember from back then...
I am apart of this beach...this beach is apart of me...damn it...
Hmmmm...nice...
I have had vivid dreams about Navarre and at times I could smell the beach air when I awoke! The dreams seemed so real...I am half way convinced that I have traveled back in time...
What if I have?
...Yeah...I'm pretty certain I have...awesome!!!!
*BIG smile*
In the summer of 2014, Keen, Cooper and I visited this beach (Navarre) for our summer vacation. I have tried to go to the beach at least once a year since 1996. I was 8 months pregnant when all these pictures were taken. I knew that this trip might be the last one for awhile...so it was real important for me to go! I was veeery prego'...veeery big...I felt like I was about to pop at any moment! It was hot too...not the best timing, but I was determined!
I have a love affair with the seagulls...I couldn't do a lot of swimming due to the fact that I was pregnant...too risky with the waves knocking me down with my belly so big...I didn't mind...I had my winged friends to play with...*smile*
See my belly?
So while I was feeding the birds, Cooper had another agenda...heehee!
Cooper at the condo ready for another day at the beach...whootwhoot!!!
First night at the beach...Cooper had to take an evening swim...
Then their is my man, Keen...posing for the camera..."He bee so sexy, mahn" (I was attempting to pull of a Jamaican accent via text just then...I am very creative as you can clearly read...! Ha!)...
Work it baby, work it!
Even Keen (who supposedly hates the beach...uh-hum...) found Zen in the moment...! Yeah, he "hated the beach" so much that he even toyed around with the idea of living there...though he will NEVER admit that! *wink*
WHOOPS! I found MORE pix in another folder...I will share! *smile*
Yep...that there wuz my man...help me!!! HeeHee!
I had a cozy time laying on the beach with my big ol' belly...
Cooper discovered a water slide at the beach and had to partake...
that youngin' can spot a water slide for miles...
he had a BLAST!!!
Celebrating Coopers 10th birthday on the beach!
A beach trip and a cake...what a birthday present, aye???
The Pier
Cooper and I, a couple of years previously from Summer of 2014, had camped at a campground near Florida's Ft. Picken's Military Fort...very close to Navarre! It was an amazing place...a wonderful photo-op, but I had forgotten to bring my camera the ((first)) time! Argh! I vowed to return...and I did, while in the area on this vacation...camera in hand ((this time))...along with Keen, Cooper and baby Zipp on the way!
The following photographs are of Ft. Picken's...my returning visit with the family...
Yeah, I told you Ft. Picken's was pretty kewl!
To see it in photographs is one thing, but to be there is another!
Keen and Cooper about to take a helicopter ride over The Gulf of Mexico...
The below pix were taken at the pier on the beach we stayed at...I was 8 months pregnant with Zipp...that was the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOngest pier I have EVER walked on...I thought for certain I was going to give birth right there...but I didn't, thanx to scattered coolers, empty chairs and empty laps along the way! HeeHee!
Cooper (above) was dying to get in the water, but prego' Mom was walking too slow for him...so we told him to go ahead, but stay close to the pier where we could see him! These were 3 different shots of Cooper superimposed together to make one! I couldn't decide which one outta' the three I liked best...so I chose them all!
*smile*
Keen and Cooper about to take a helicopter ride over The Gulf of Mexico...
The below pix were taken at the pier on the beach we stayed at...I was 8 months pregnant with Zipp...that was the LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOngest pier I have EVER walked on...I thought for certain I was going to give birth right there...but I didn't, thanx to scattered coolers, empty chairs and empty laps along the way! HeeHee!
Cooper (above) was dying to get in the water, but prego' Mom was walking too slow for him...so we told him to go ahead, but stay close to the pier where we could see him! These were 3 different shots of Cooper superimposed together to make one! I couldn't decide which one outta' the three I liked best...so I chose them all!
*smile*
Sigh...
Ohhhh when I sell my house...I MUST sell my house!!! I am strongly considering the beach!
I miss it...
Horribly...
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