After waking up in a Walmart parking lot east of New Orleans, we continued down I-10. We’d be passing by Biloxi, and that’s a place that’s always seemed neat to visit. So we did. (If you’re from there, you say bil-UX-ee.)
Albert did a little research the night before and found a historic lighthouse. There’s also a Biloxi Visitors’ Center and Lighthouse Park, all located at the same intersection. Since it was still early, we pulled into the Lighthouse Park parking lot. Seeing a picnic table, we decided to eat our breakfast out in the morning breeze, with the Gulf right across the street.
And that’s when I met him. His name was George. He was sitting on a bench as the boys walked by to the playground, and I asked him if he’d like to join us for breakfast. What’s neat is he was friendly. That might not seem like anything special, but friendliness isn’t always easy to come by. I introduced myself to him, and we started chatting in easy conversation. He had to decline our breakfast invitation due to a doctor’s appointment later that morning. I found out he’d only moved there to Biloxi two years earlier from another part of AL for a new job. While on the job, he injured his back and hip and has been unable to work since. He was subletting a room, and the main tenant fell behind on his rent. A few days after Thanksgiving this last year, George had to move out. Thankfully, he was able to find another place to stay for a while, but in April, he became homeless. In talking to him there at the bench, I was actually in his “home”. Lighthouse Park is where George lives. He’s heard from Disability and they say he should be receiving his benefits by August. That means two more months in the park. He sleeps under the pavillion, but has to be up by 6am. The police don’t like people sleeping in the park past 6 since it’s tourist season. We talked of other things, too. He was interested in our trip, and gave suggestions as to what to see while in Florida. He explained some about the Gulf waters. It was fun learning what he had to share. After a good hug and a promise to keep him in my prayers, we said good-bye.

 

After a quick hello to the Visitors’ Center, we crossed the street to see the light house and to touch the Gulf of Mexico waters for the first time. It was so warm. Being so used to CA oceans, it was unbelievable!

 

We got back to Big Boy and I looked to wave one last time to George. He was already gone to his appointment. I still think of him and pray. If he crosses your mind, please do the same.

We arrived at Payne’s RV Park in Theodore, AL.

 

We intentionally got in early so we could do some much-needed housekeeping. It was all- hands-on-deck for taking care of chores. Dayne and Ean found some time to love on the locals, and they found it even harder to leave them behind when the office lady said we could take home as many as we wanted.

 

The next day, upon making it to Mobile, we headed straight to Battleship Park. Doesn’t that just sound awesome?! Ean is in love with all things military, so this place really spoke to his heart. There are jets, tanks, boats, you name it, it’s out there in the park somewhere. We toured the USS Alabama, a WWII battleship. Thankfully, we were able to borrow a wheel chair from the gift shop, but there were plenty of times Ean hoofed it with his crutches while Albert carried the wheel chair.

 

After the USS Alabama, we walked through the aviation museum and out to the USS Drum, a submarine. None of us had ever been in a sub before, and it was incredible to think seventy-two soldiers were deep in the water inside that sausage for long periods of time. And their beds were even smaller than the beds on the battleship.

It was time to leave Battleship Park and head to the historic district of Mobile. (Locals pronounce it MOH-beel, with a drawl, of course). I was hoping to see some more old, beautiful homes. And did God have a treat in store for us! We ended up driving down N. Monterey St. The homes were so, so, so cute and quaint. They had personality. Please Google them. The neighbors had worked together to string white bistro lights in a zig-zag across the street for quite a ways down.

And then, there was the mail lady out delivering. We had some postcards to send off, so Albert pulled over and I jumped out to meet up with her. While out, I decided to take advantage and take some pictures of the street. And that’s when a neighbor asked me if I saw something I liked? I said “Yes! They’re all just so precious and lovely!” She said, “Why thank you. That one over there is mine.” (With a beautiful Southern accent, of course). Well then another neighbor joined us, and for a few minutes, I felt like we lived on N. Montery St. in Mobile, AL. We neighbors just chatted there for a short while, after I mailed off our correspondence, of course. All that was necessary to complete the dream would’ve been sipping some lemonade on the front porch. It was perfect. For just a few moments, perfect.
Well, we said good-bye to our neighbors and headed to Cammie’s Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe. (The neighbors gave their hearty approval when they heard it was our next stop.)
Then, Pensacola, here we come! While on the USS Drum, a cute grandpa that works there suggested we visit the Naval Aviation Museum on base in Pensacola. After crossing the line into FL, that’s exactly where we headed.

 

 

This is a phenomenal place to visit. There’s so much quality in everything they’ve put into this place. We only had 1 hr 20 min, so we made the most of it.

 

 

The Warriors would be playing in just a little while, so we headed to a McDonald’s in Navarre to finish the evening. And God, please be with George, as I know You are.