Pensacola

Dear Chewey,

Avery and I made it to Chattanooga, Tennessee last night. What a lovely little town! We won’t be here long enough for me to give you much detail, as we’re heading to Great Smoky Mountains National Park today—but I’m here to tell you, you would have so much fun walking along the Tennessee River waterfront. I would worry about ticks for you here, though. (If you didn’t grow hair like a yeti, I’d worry far less.)

We spent the last three days in Pensacola Beach, Florida (pictures below). We had a beautiful hotel that overlooked the Gulf of… whatever it’s called now.

Avery got to spend a lot of time with her best friend, Jaceena, who’s stationed at the Naval base in Pensacola. Jaceena is such a wonderful friend to Avery, and they had so much fun together—talking, and even painting (legal) graffiti on this cool bridge that actually welcomes graffiti.

Then we had a surprise: we met your oldest brother, Travis, in Mobile, Alabama. I’d forgotten he lived in Alabama, but it just so happened that his birthday was on April 2nd. I wished him a happy birthday, asked what he was up to, and he reminded me of his current situation. We lucked out—he and his parents (who were visiting from Oregon) drove down, and we met for dinner. That was a real treat.

The rest of the trip was just relaxing, and that actually seems to have helped my back, which (knock on wood) hasn’t been hurting for the last three days!

Photos from Pensacola are below, and I look forward to sending more from the Smokies and beyond.

Love you, buddy,

Dad