After a carefully monitoring the weather forecast, we took Suzy Bogguss’ advice to “Drive South”. Accompanied by Jimmy Buffett’s beach tunes, we escaped for a couple of days – just the two of us – no family – no friends – just the two of us on a delayed anniversary celebration. It had been two years since we’d been adventuring alone and we were anxious to see how much had changed during the last dreary months of pandemic insanity.
There are lots of routes to take to the Gulf of Mexico from our house. They all get you there in about the same about of time. Your choice is what do you want to see along the way and how much traffic do you want to battle. We chose scenic and less traveled.
A lot looks the same as it has for the thirty years since we made the first drive south.
- Catfish ponds ringed by long legged, sharp billed snowy egrets wading into the water ready to pounce on an unaware catfish skimming the bottom of the pond. There are so many birds, you have to wonder if there are any fish left to harvest.
- Cattle resting under shade trees trying to stay cool at ten o’clock in the morning.
- Script A’s on crimson flags and rolled hay bales noting Bama’s National Championships. This is definitely Crimson Tide country. We traveled this way the morning after the Alabama – Auburn game one year and some enterprising farmer had already painted Bama’s winning score on the side of his barn before we went by early the next morning.
- Massive oak trees that have survived scores of Alabama storms still grace the yards of Greensboro’s beautiful columned mansions.
- Trailers parked alone on a small plot of land or in little communities of like abodes. But, I think this is the first time I didn’t see a single battle flag defiantly showing its stars and bars.
- Little country churches freshly painted and thriving with silk Memorial Day bouquets providing a riot of color in the marble gardens where past congregants rest their mortal remains. Some, not so blessed, have the woods and weeds creeping closer to cover them – their congregations gone and cemeteries abandoned. The preacher at one small town church showed his sense of humor – the message board out in front said, “Even mosquitoes know there is power in the Blood.”
- Log trucks piled high with straight pine trees stripped of their needles speed down one hill to chug up the next – shedding bark and branches as they go while you play “Name That Road Debris”.
- Everything in bloom. Mimosas bursting with their yellowish pink fuzzy flowers. Dinner plate sized blooms filling the spaces between the green waxy flowers of the magnolias. Orange and black lilies that my mother-in-law called ditch lilies growing wild along the roadside. Crepe myrtles proudly displaying their deep pink blooms.
- And oceans of trees. Pines growing so tall they almost meet overhead forming a deep, green tunnel. Shrubs of every variety. And kudzu covering every living thing with its green leafy vines until it is all you see for acres and acres. My husband says this land isn’t doing anything but “holding the world together.”
It was comforting that so much was the same, but the differences we’re a little disturbing.
- Cell towers litter the landscape. Everywhere. How can anyone be wireless deprived? They sure aren’t anywhere near where we were.
- In small towns the fast food restaurants we’re open for drive thru and inside ordering, but no inside dining. It takes more people to clean up after inside diners and employers are having trouble finding reliable employees willing to give up their government checks for pay checks. The first morning we went to breakfast at the hotel, only two of the scheduled five people showed up for work. I’m worried this trend may be here to stay.
- Gulf Shores has always attracted families to its white sand beaches – frequently with three generations vacationing together. That is still true but everyone from Grandma on down have cell phones in hand. I understand you want to take pictures of what those cute kids of yours are doing – we had fun watching their antics too. But most of the time they aren’t snapping pics, just mesmerized by the screens or texting. Missing all the fun and beauty around them. It’s hard to imagine what message is coming in from the Mother Ship – is it time for the invasion? You know sightings of UFOs are increasing. Think about it.
All in all it was a lovely drive south. The stay was relaxing. We even found a new fine dining spot tucked away in a neighborhood away from the beach.
The morning we checked out, a storm was brewing off the coast. We were up early to see the sunrise and were rewarded with a rainbow laced through the storm clouds. The picture doesn’t do it justice, but here it is:
I hope you find a rainbow inside any dark clouds you encounter. (And I hope you’re looking up from your phone long enough to catch it!) Enjoy!!!