Trip to Pensacola

Awhile back Kevin was approached by an organization called Wishgranters.  They grant wishes to adults with terminal illnesses.  Kevin immediately knew what he wanted to do.  He wanted to go back to Pensacola, Florida.  He had went through aircrew candidate school 25 years ago in Pensacola.  He loved the area and had always wanted to take me there.  Doug, at Wishgranters, arranged for the trip.  We headed out of town for a week of fun and sun.  Grandma Terrell watched the girls, while Kevin and I went and acted like newlyweds.

To sweeten the trip (as if it was not already sweet enough), we received another great surprise. At my work, our investment company has brought together a group of leaders from some of their portfolio companies.  I have had the honor and privilege to be part of this Atlas Leadership Academy group.  When my fellow classmates learned of Kevin's situation and our trip to Florida, they arranged an amazing excursion for us while we were there.

The first morning after we arrived, my classmates had arranged for us to go on a Waverunner/Dolphin Excursion.  It was amazing.  We spent the whole morning touring the bay in Orange Beach, Alabama.  We first went out on a boat.  Then, we hopped aboard a couple of waverunner's while the boat captain led us around the bay.  

Orange Beach is known for it's large population of dolphins.  The dolphins come there to breed and teach their young how to hunt and survive.  We managed to find several dolphins.  Though, the pictures prove we just weren't fast enough.  I promise this is a dolphin and not a shark! 

We spent one of the days on the base at the Naval Aviation Museum.  It was absolutely amazing.  Kevin has been to the Smithsonian and believes that this museum was far better.  The museum was filled with "actual" historic items as opposed to "replicas".  The fact that we both love naval aviation helped bias our opinions.

Here is a picture of the Blue Angels pre-F18.

The fabulous F14-Tomcat.  While we were there, I had the opportunity to sit in the actual F14 that flew the last combat mission for this aircraft.

Here is the bell from the USS Saratoga, which is the aircraft carrier that David (Kevin's brother) had been deployed on.

Here is the S-3 Viking that George Bush landed on the USS Abraham Lincoln in 2003, "Mission Accomplished":)

Me, showing my true sentiment.  I think the Blue Angels are super talented, but after hosting them at the Point Mugu Airshow once, I believe their egos are simply out of this world (sorry Mike Schurb).

We also saw the Marine 1 helicopter that flew President Nixon around.  We took pictures in front of the historic Pensacola Lighthouse.  Visitors can climb to the top.  We did not!

Kevin outside of his old barracks.

Parasailing, of course!

The captain decided to give us a little splash as we came in.

We had dinner and drinks at Red Fish Blue Fish.  The food was amazing the whole trip.  Kevin had seafood gumbo AT LEAST once a day, sometimes twice.

One evening, we had the pleasure of meeting an amazing couple, K'Lyn and Jason.  They had just moved from Boise to Florida six months ago.  K'Lyn was on the Board of Wishgranter's when they lived in Boise.  We dined at McGuire's Pub which was a museum in and of itself.

We are truly grateful for the people at Wishgranter's for making a dream come true.  We had a very memorable and very fabulous time!