Throwback Thursday! Oct 12, 2017

I don't have any dated photos to show, as you might expect from the header title.  For the six of us, the day seemed to revolve around Memory Lane; as in, a throwback to our past.  I have to say that roaming around the Mobile Bay area has given me several emotional moments, remembering many of the things Jimmy and I and Rob did together -- kayaking, biking, running road races, even moving -- Rob is gone and we'll never share any of these activities with him again.  I've been caught unawares at times, with so many memories coursing thru my brain.  Well, and now it's time to move on.

When Jimmy and I pulled into the Hampton Inn to join in the breakfast camaraderie, the gang wasn't all there, so to speak.  While we waited for missing family members, I mentioned "going to see the alligator that lives in the nearby creek.  A boardwalk will take us to it."  After breakfast, that's what we did ... trooped down the Gator Alley Boardwalk to see the gator in D'Olive Creek (a muddy mess if I ever saw one).

You tell 'em, Nannie!

Everyone looked, and we saw nothing.  Brother Rus walked to the creek's far edge and there it was!  The gator was minding its own business, resting in the weeds.  Maybe Rus woke it up, 'cause it slithered on its tummy into the creek and waited, expectantly.  When no marshmallows or other tasty tidbits came its way, the photo op was over.  It retreated into the water weeds further upstream.  Pretty neat to be able to produce an alligator on demand, huh?

Beautiful Lotus flowers bloom in muddy D'Olive Creek.

When the show was finished, we made for the van, though a pit stop probably came first.  We were aiming for the other side of Mobile Bay, through the tunnel and into the City of Mobile.  Our first stop was Pine Crest Cemetery where our folks are buried.  Twenty years have passed since we placed our mother's ashes there.  Our dad died in 1977.  We paid our respects.

[Jimmy says, "It's not a van.  It's a six-person SUV."  Okay, but I'm calling it a van!"]

Rob lived not too far from the cemetery.  Rus and Anne had never seen his house and wanted to envision where he'd spent his last five years.  Even though his house had sold, Nannie said the new owners worked and we could do a drive-by.  (She was Rob's executrix)  We did more -- we parked the van and four of us walked straight into his backyard.  Rus and Anne examined the lift Rob used to raise and lower his kayaks into the Dog River canal ... he loved kayaking the river and the entire Mobile delta.  The yard looked well kept.  Pleased, we left.

Next up was a look-see at the homestead where our parents lived, having moved to Mobile in 1968.  This time we stayed in the van.  Mission accomplished, it was time to cross the bay and return to the Eastern Shore.  I bet it seems like all we do is eat (true!), and we were hungry again as we made our way toward Fairhope.  Nannie and I suggested Guido's in Daphne, where we'd eaten before.  We had a stellar lunch -- my plate was crab ravioli with spinach and mushrooms, and Italian green beans ... muy bien!  Oops, we lingered beyond their 2pm closing.  Good time!

Yup, it was windy at the end of the pier.

When in Rome, etc.  When in Fairhope, we always walk the 1/4 mile pier.

Even when it's HOT.  Anne and Jimmy, above.

Strolling around downtown Fairhope, peeking into shops, admiring architecture, we ended up at Page and Palette for coffee and, uh-huh, ice cream!  What the heck, it was almost dinnertime anyway. 

Standing guard at the pier. (it's real)

With one more destination in mind, we drove south to Point Clear and the Grand Hotel, hoping to walk around their lovely, landscaped grounds.  Alas, the waterfront was closed off due to water damage from Hurricane Nate.  We arrived at sunset and poked around as much as we could before it was too dark to see.

We watched this guy just off the walkway as he fished.  He looks different in the top left because we were on his right.  Moving to his left, we watched as he lunged, and came up with a tiny fish:  success! 

The day was long, we put lots of steps on our fitbits, but we did and saw what we wanted -- and you can't ask for any more.  We climbed in the van one last time and Jimmy drove us to Daphne and the Hampton Inn.  Nannie and Bubba, Rus and Anne bid us goodnight.  Tomorrow they leave, first Anne and Rus who will rent a car and drive to Memphis and Graceland, a place Anne has always wanted to visit.  Later, Nannie and Bubba will drive home to Baton Rouge.  The six of us are so fortunate, so blessed to spend this time together.  The saying, "Live, Love, Laugh?"  We did it all.