February Vacation

Our trip began on a Saturday in mid-February as we drove to Florida stopping the first night in Illinois. Sunday, Feb. 9 we drove to Paducah, Kentucky and experienced the devastation of the wind storms that moved through that area two weeks before. On Monday, Feb. 10 we visited the Museum of the American Quilt Society. Wayne had not been there before, but this was my third visit. The exhibits at the time included wonderful miniature quilt. I especially liked the whole cloth quilts. They were magnificent. From there we drove to Franklin, Tennessee to have lunch with my cousin and his wife. On Tuesday we visited the Motorsports Hall of Fame at Taledaga Speedway in Alabama. We also toured the track. It is an experience to see the cars that have raced there and actually be at the track. We both enjoyed this visit. From here we drove to Panama City Beach, Florida where we spent 9 days. It was our first stay in the panhandle area of Florida. We need something warmer as a spot to spend our winters! It was just too cool and windy while we were there. But we enjoyed the time away and seeing another area we had never been to before.

Friends invited us to visit them at their winter home at Port St. Joe, Florida, for the day and that was terrific. The walk on the peaceful beach was lovely. It was the best day of our trip.

Another day trip we took was to Pennsicola, Florida, to the Naval Aviation Museum. I was very emotionally stirred thinking of the events that happened when certain planes were in use. The wedding of my paternal grandparents was one event that brought tears to my eyes. A reaction I didn't expect to have. Walking through the submarine exhibit also struck me. They had the photography studio set up. My dad wasn't stationed on a submarine, but he did work in the Army Air Core as a photographer so the equipment was probably very similar. I came out thinking I needed to watch the movie, Pearl Harbor, with a new appreciation of what the people went through at that time.