Blue Angels 2008

The Blue Angels were to fly over Pensacola Beach again this year. It had the makings of a special day. Larry arranged to have off for the day so that he could attend the Blue Angels party at my boss' house on Pensacola Beach. The view from Mr. Reeves' house is phenomenal - plus parking is assigned.

It is advisable to start heading out to the Beach at around 7am even though Fat Albert does not usually fly over until one or half past one. The traffic getting to the Beach is just that horrendous. The problem begins with access to the Beach.

If you are coming from Pensacola you must cross the Pensacola Bay Bridge - or the 3-Mile Bridge as it is known around here. This takes you across the Pensacola Bay into Gulf Breeze. In Gulf Breeze, a very high-class and expensive "white" area, you must drive the speed limit because this area has non-existent crime so the cops are relatively bored.

However, there are only two lanes going onto Pensacola Beach via the Bob Sikes Toll Bridge. There are two lanes on the bridge and two lanes on Via DeLuna Drive on Pensacola Beach and four toll booths. So, bottlenecking is expected.

Mostly, the crowds are just plentiful. People really look forward to a day on the beach with their friends and family (it usually falls around Independence Day - give or take a week), drinking and watching a spectacular air show.

We are fortunate to have this party to go to. It is usually packed with notables even though I don't really care to know them. But, that is just me.

So, we got stuck in traffic at 8:30 am. An hour later we finally arrived. The tables were groaning with food and snacks. BBQ pork ribs, chicken, BLT Dip with corn chip scoops, coleslaw - and then there was a dessert table. Man, o man!

We socialised and sweat for a while until about an hour before the show was set to start. The sky opened up and just dropped buckets full of rain on us with lightning popping all around - people were freaking out. And, of course, at the party everyone had to go inside. Ha! Larry was very apt in saying, "It's fixing to get real intimate in here". We got stuck at the food table and did not complain about that at all. But, what a din!

When it showed signs of light rain and it was announced that the Air Show was post-poned until the next day, Larry and I decided to go home and hang out there on a comfy couch. It felt akward to sit down and have older people looking at you funny as if to say "how dare you young'un sit there while we stand".

As you can see by the pictures, we weren't the only ones ready to evacuate the Beach. Sadly, Larry had to work hard the next day and I had to go to church so neither of us got to see the Air Show, but I suppose the saying is true: Seen the Angels once, seen 'em all.

P.S.: For all those wondering what "fixing to" means, it is a Southern term that means "about to" and can also come out as "fitting to". Don't worry, they are frequently questioned by non-Southerns about what might be broken that needs fixin' to which they usually chuckle. Hmm...