Shower the People

The Mets were rained out tonight, so I joined Ashley in watching LOST with our friends Dallas, Monty & Karen, Mike the Pirate, and Rob. I don't get into too many serial television programs, but this is one that keeps me on my toes. The two of us have been hooked since borrowing the Season 1 dvd set from M&K about this time last year. Good show, better company, but a little disappointed that I couldn't enjoy the turkey sausage & peppers and Cracker Jack in front of the Amazins' game tonight.

We are in-between two Wedding Shower weekends. Last Friday-Sunday, we spent time in Mississippi with my parents, grandmothers, and dozens of folks whose names Ashley is still struggling to recall. Aunt Jeanette, the phenomenal lady that she is, arranged for us to share Gramby's 91st birthday party with her on Saturday afternoon. We had some time to receive awesome and thoughful wedding gifts, plus Ashley's family was able to get acquainted with the Smiths and Wards. I think all of us had a great time, especially Ashley's grandmother Margaret (or Juanga, if you like). She nearly stole the show from the prospective bride and groom. She left the party to go home with my grandmother Sunshine, and when we arrived there to pick her up, the two of them had purses on their arms, ready to go out to dinner together. We think Juanga may have worked her way onto several Christmas card lists over the weekend.

I was given an opportunity to discover a mysterious remnant from my early life. Gramby's property has been surveyed and divided among Mom and her eight siblings--call it a living inheritance. On Aunt Peggy's property stands a huge birch tree with an inscription which appears to read: DAVID WARD 10-24-78. For those who aren't mathematicians, I would have been about three weeks shy of my second birthday on that day. It seemed fairly obvious to the six of us who hiked our way out to the tree that I didn't carve my own name into the bark, but no one seems to know how it got there. Neither of my parents could offer any concrete answers, and I certainly don't remember how it happened. If any family member or forest-dwelling gnome can solve the riddle, we would happily accept your explanation.

Next Sunday, our Tallahassee friends and church family are planning a coed Wedding Shower. We'll finally get to see Maid of Honor Kristen for the first time this year as we welcome her to town for a few days this weekend. And the Mets will be playing every night from Thursday until at least Sunday. It looks to be another busy few days on the 90-day stretch run toward the wedding.

Thank you to all the kind Mississippians for your hospitality and generosity. We hope to see you all again soon. Oh, and killer apartment, Mom.

Rollin' on the River

david here...We took a day off from wedding planning, wedding shopping, and all things work. Last Saturday, we decided to go kayaking down the Wakulla River with some friends. Rob (our Best Man) and Jessica (Ashley's mate from the College of Nursing) piled in the Xterra with us and drove down to TNT Hideaway. It was pretty cool in the morning, almost too cool to get into a spring-fed river at 10 AM. The weather turned out to be fantastic as the day got closer to noon. Ashley and Jessica didn't even need their sweatshirts after about an hour of paddling.

At the midway point, we pulled ashore and ate lunch on the SR 267 bridge across the river. The bridge is notorious as a favorite jumping point for swimmers and adventurers, but no one was sure whether we wanted to get in the cold water. While finishing lunch, I knocked the cooler bag over and a green apple came rolling out. In slow motion, the apple turned end-over-end until it rolled off the side of the bridge and fell about 12 feet into the Wakulla River. As the apple began to float downstream, Jessica and I decided that we had our excuse to jump in. We peeled-off down to bathing suits and went in after it. We rescued the apple and I ate it as if to justify the leap from the bridge. After 10 minutes of will she/won't she, Ashley jumped in with me right behind her. Rob wimped out and stayed dry for the whole trip, and we may never let him forget.

Along the way, we saw dozens of turtles, several mullet jumping out of the water, a 3-4 foot-long alligator, and several blue crabs in the river. But nothing impressed us more than the four manatee we saw on the trip back downstream. They appeared in two pairs; the first a mother and calf and the second looked like a couple of playmates. The river is shallow and clear in most parts, so we could see them in close proximity. Jessica sadly pointed out their scars from motorboats as we drifted around and over them. They are amazing creatures and awe-inspiring. Since we could get next to and right above them, I was amazed at just how massive they can be. They seemed to be at least as long as our kayaks from nose to tail. And as for girth, I doubt that Ashley and I could join hands and reach all the way around them. They're such massive animals, but quiet, gentle, and graceful (except for the one that poo'ed near us). What an incredible sight they were! If you have the means, I highly recommend getting out to see them for yourself.