Mardi Gras, also called Fat Tuesdays, to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Epiphany or King's Day and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday." reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.

We decided we’d take in the local Mardi Gras parade. When we asked at the visitor’s center how early we needed to come downtown to be able to park. We were assured 3 hours early was more than enough. NOT!  We ended up having to hoof it over a mile which ordinarily would not be a big deal, however, that is farther than I have been walking, in one stretch, since my knee surgery.  Wasn’t sure I’d make it, but I  did. Yay!  Norm retrieved the car afterward though and picked me up. What a gentleman. J

It was one wild-n-crazy afternoon celebrating with the island folks of Santa Rosa and catching strings of beads flung at the crowd.  Notice in the pictures how close the people were to the parade!  It was, as I said….one wild-n-crazy afternoon…..And, we caught quite a few beads!

Living the moment

Norm & Nancy

The National Naval Aviation Museum

What a surprise! I knew about aircraft carriers, but thought that was something the Air Force was in charge of. I didn’t realize that the Navy had their own airplanes, or aviators either for that matter, so I you can imagine how I was blown away by the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola -  the world’s largest Naval Aviation museum and one of the most-visited museums in the state of Florida.

 Naval Aviation’s rich history is on display and we saw more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation. Well, I say we saw that many because that is how many the brochure says they have and we saw them all – give or take a few. It is an amazing show of aviation throughout history.

These historic and one-of-a-kind aircraft are displayed both inside the Museum’s nearly 350,000 square feet of exhibit space and outside on its 37-acre grounds. Norm was especially delighted when he saw a model of the kind of ship he served on, The USS Estes and even more excited when he saw a mortar exactly like the one’s he, and other Pipe Fitter/Sheet Metal workers, turned into flashlights for a lighting display when some dignitaries came aboard in Singapore. Way cool!

We’ve spent two full days , so far, touring the museum and will probably go back one more time to catch the little parts we missed. If you’re ever in the Pensacola area this museum is a “must see.”

Living the dream!

Norm & Nancy

Because We Long to be Birds

When did you last fly a kite?  I highly reccomend it for everyone - of all ages!

We brought down a couple with us to Pensacola because we knew the beach is usually perfect wind for flying and there's no telephone wires around to worry about. And, lucky that we did as we've spent several wonderful afternoon on the beach flying our butterflies and birds. There is truly nothing quite as freeing as kite flying. Leonard Cohan says it well in his book, Spice Box of Earth....

“A kite is a victim you are sure of.

You love it because it pulls

gentle enough to call you master,

strong enough to call you fool;

because it lives

like a desperate trained falcon

in the high sweet air,

and you can always haul it down

to tame it in your drawer.

A kite is a fish you have already caught

in a pool where no fish come,

so you play him carefully and long,

and hope he won't give up,

or the wind die down.

A kite is the last poem you've written

so you give it to the wind,

but you don't let it go

until someone finds you

something else to do.” 

― Leonard Cohen, The Spice Box of Earth

And so, we will continue to fly kites every chance possibly. In fact, just today Norm placed an order for a HUGE one. It should be here by Friday!

Because We long to Be Birds,

Norm & Nancy