Shazreh and family visit

On Friday evening the 16th, our friends Shazreh, Rajib, Salehuddin and Nahar came to visit.  They drove from Dallas – an 11 hour drive.  Fortunately, we had some sun to offer them all weekend and they took full advantage.  They often rose for the sunrise - only to go back to bed for a while.  They strolled the beach, gleaning small shells.  In fact, they got a kick out of the fact that they “could walk to another state, and be back for breakfast” (as Alabama is only .5 miles west of us)!

Rajib, Shaz, Nahar & Salehuddin

As a bit of background, we met Shaz on our study abroad in China 2008.  She was there independently, studying Chinese – and quickly became a friend of our students and ourselves.  Over the next ten years, she enrolled at St. Ben’s, was one of the students on our South Africa 2012 study abroad, graduated (her parents stayed with us for her graduation), and got married to Rajib in Bangladesh.  We, along with Mark, Beth and Leon, were honored to attend their seven-day wedding festivities!  Needless to say, we’ve become close family friends.  Her mother Nahar and father Salehuddin arrived in the U.S. in January, planning to start the process to stay and become citizens.  Their daughter Irina is a citizen and Shaz has her green card “in process” (where it’s lingered for the last seven months). 

They all arrived late Friday night and I had dinner waiting.  They settled in, we ate and then introduced them to two dominoes’ games: Mexican Train and Chicken Foot.  I think dominoes was a hit!  I can imagine them sitting around a table in Dallas and playing.  

On Saturday, we took off for the National Naval Aviation Museum.  Many locals recommended that we go.  None of us were sure if we’d get in as Minnesota does not currently have an “acceptable” driver’s license to get onto a military base, and none of the others had U.S. citizenship.  But, we were waved through with a friendly smile (although it made me sad that the Navy guy at the gate had never heard of the country of Bangladesh).

I didn’t know if I’d enjoy looking at a bunch of old planes, but it was interesting.  The most interesting aspect for me was seeing the original SkyLab, the U.S.'s first and only space station.  

Two astronauts ready to launch

To show height/width of Skylab

Inside, three different three-astronaut crews spent a total 171 days.  I can’t describe to you how small a space they lived in!  Three small cots barely fit side by side.  When they were folded away, I imagine it was big enough for three people to stand up in a circle – that’s all!  How they managed the longest stay of 84 days is beyond me.  I do not have claustrophobia, I don’t think – but it would have been extremely hard for me to do it.  What if you had a leg cramp?! :-)

Snoopy's Sopwith Camel

Air Force 1 Helicopter

The museum had a version of every plane since the beginning, I think.  We took a trolley ride around the base, explaining some of them.  (I couldn’t get over how so many of the plane’s noses looked like animals close up.)  They had planes that flew “over the hump” in WW2 into China without the pilots having access to any oxygen.  They had an Air Force One helicopter. And, a Sopwith Camel - the plane that Snoopy flew in his imaginary battles with the Red Baron.  

In a Blue Angel cockpit.  It's snug in there!

This visit became even more meaningful after we left the base.  We had had no idea, but Salehuddin shared with us later that his oldest brother had come here as part of then Pakistan’s Air Force for flight training.  He died in the early 1950s when his plane plummeted into the ocean off Pensacola.  They never found his body, but they knew that there was a grave marker in Pensacola. Because his name was misspelled, it took some time to locate his grave.  It was recently located after a lot of research through both the Internet and Rajib calling many cemeteries.  In 2015, Nahar and Salehuddin became the first family members to visit his grave.

We also went to Pensacola Gulf Beach on Saturday.  As it was the first really warm sunny day, to me, the beach was full of people.  When I shared that with Salehuddin, he laughed.  He said “In Bangladesh, this would be sparse.”   

Rajib - who loves to fish - tried his luck with fishing off the pier.  The Pensacola Gulf Beach Pier is pretty famous.  Just built in 2009, it is 1470 feet long, stretching out over emerald green waters and two sand bars. 

Pensacola Gulf Beach Pier = 5 football fields long

It is known for sunset viewing, so we stayed.  Awe-some!  

Sunset at Pensacola Gulf beach

But then, when it was time to leave, the one and only exit from the parking lot was packed with cars.  We sat in line for probably 15 minutes without moving an inch.  So, we re-parked – and went into a bar.  We ended up ordering the local drink – “The Bushwhacker!”   Tasty ice cream drink, loaded with liquor.  (Shazreh was looking for another the next day!)

Rajib and "Sam"

On Sunday, we stayed put and enjoyed our condo and its beach.  Another sunny day, Rajib tried his fishing skills out there as well.  He was quickly joined by a new friend – who was also hoping he’d catch something.  We named him “Sam,” but Rajib and Sam came up empty-handed and -billed! 

Shaz and I did try the water.  It was blindingly cold at first; even I screamed.  But, you did get used to it, and then the absolutely crystal-clear water felt fantastic.  (If there are oil remnants of the oil spill off the Gulf Coast, I couldn’t see any evidence.)   Shaz and I grinned excitedly when we realized that about five dolphins were swimming not that far away from us!  We weren’t exactly “swimming with the dolphins,” but we were close enough to see them.

That evening, we got dressed up (some of us more than others) and took sunset pictures on our beach.  

I think Nahar’s picture in her sari is by far the best and so beautiful.  

Sand or snow?

And, as Shaz commented on Facebook, “Can you see why this sand is sometimes mistaken for snow?”   

We then went out for a seafood dinner at The Sassy Bass.  Fresh fish of the day, raw oysters, we had it all.  As a final gesture, we used their sign to signify that this had been one great weekend!