Expect A Miracle
Yesterday my mom babysat Noah and Jonah so I could go on Nathan’s second grade field trip aboard the dolphin cruise. The only thing more enjoyable than gazing at the sparkling emerald waters of Destin’s Gulf coast is doing so while on a boat. Heaven!
Harborwalk Village (seen above) is such a great concept. I love going there to hang out. Unfortunately, their restaurant options are severely lacking. Three restaurants in particular SUCK: Pat O’Brien’s (which, thankfully, closed), The Crazy Lobster (worst cat food I’ve ever consumed and I’m shocked it’s still open), and The Dancing Iguana (unbelievably expensive for mediocre food, not to mention it gave me food poisoning). At least Harry T’s has great crab soup?! Anyway, that’s not what this post is about. I just thought it was worth mentioning.
The water was beautiful.
We saw dolphins, which was good, because it was, you know, a dolphin cruise.
My kid posed for pictures by himself…
…with his hot mom (and by “hot” I mean it was like 90 degrees out and I was thankful my deodorant was doing its job – 17 weeks pregnant, by the way)…
…and with his buddy Jared. He also posed with his teachers and other friends, but moving right along…
This is our neighbor Belle. (Remember her?) I’m pretty sure Nathan and Jared will eventually fight over who gets to date her. Ha!
Each child was allowed to “drive” for a few minutes. Which reminds me…
What a difference two years can make! This was taken on Nathan’s kindergarten field trip on the dolphin cruise in May 2008.
Crab Island looked rather inviting.
Yes, the Gulf water was perfect. I took 100+ pictures of it. And I thought about how the news was reporting yesterday morning that oil had washed ashore in Pensacola.
I watched in silence as the workers did their best to protect our harbor from the oil.
Today the news reports said oil had reached Destin’s beaches. I’ve yet to verify firsthand if that’s correct. Andy and I flipped between four different news channels today, trying our best to get a balanced report. It’s frustrating, to say the least. One side says it’s BP’s fault. The other side says BP had emergency plans in place, but the government wouldn’t let them act for fear of “hurting the environment” further. I’m sure there’s truth and lies on both sides, as always. We’ll never really know. What we do know for sure is that it’s a big freaking disaster.
Is this gone? Forever? If not, then for how long?
Perhaps we should all cling to the words I saw printed on the boat yesterday:
Great pix! As for the oil in Destin, Drew had to go for his Jr lifeguard swim test today at the public beach access across from Camille’s and it was beautiful. NO OIL! All the kids had to get in the water and swim out to the instructor on his board and swim back, and Drew was not “oily” when he got back. ALSO, all of our boats went out today and no one saw any oil either.
xoxo The boom pics made me start crying- again. Ugh.
This has me feeling so many emotions.
I want to move back. I want to bask in the Gulf. I want OUR Gulf and OUR beaches to be OK.
I NEED it.
crying…!
I love it here, this is home. I cannot help but let the tears flow. And it’s only 9:09 am. The pictures were beautiful..
Lori,
Found your blog because I was searching reviews for The Dancing Iguana…my family and I just ate there…wish I’d read your blog post prior to, the only redeeming factor of The Iguana was the gorgeous view.
I am also sickened thinking of the reproachable mess lurking 4 miles from these breathtaking shores. Hoping for the very best outcome, a swift recovery and for public outrage great enough to better protect our natural resources and ensure this never happens again.
Thank you!
Tracy