Airstreamin: Frank and Ann

Tree with Spanish Moss

Jacksonville, Florida

10/31-11/3/10

What an enjoyable visit we had with Frank, my ex
brother in law and his wife Ann. I had not seen Frank
since my son’s wedding and before that perhaps another
20 years ? Another of life’s collateral victims of divorce
where a former relative one really likes seems to go
away with the split.

We did find a place to camp nearby at Hanna State Park
right on the beach, a wide and endless that stretched for
miles and only a 2 minute drive from our site. Primitive
is the word for Hanna Park. It has all the facilities and
hookups but the thick undergrowth of Palmetto palms
and closely spaced tall trees gives a prehistoric feel.
There is plenty of privacy due to the dense palm fronds
at low level.

After connecting by phone with Frank, JoAnn and I head
off, mostly trusting the iPhone’s gps, to gather up dinner.
We even make it to Costco for some rib eye steaks and
get ready for a feast at camp. Frank and Ann came by
camp and we had the table set with broiled stakes so
thick we had to half them, scallop potatoes, caesar salads,
lobster dip, wine, beers and black cherry cider, ice cream
and chocolates and an aromatic fire in the pit. It did get
dark quick so we had the candles and flashlights going
as well. It was a great time for wine, camp fire catching
up. We hardly scratched the surface of memories past
but it was a great start. As they had the next day off,
Sunday, we looked forward to visiting their home.

Frank lives in a little subdivision called Spanish Loop
that backs up to broad grassy marshes that connect
with the Inter Coastal Waterway providing endless
kayaking, fishing, and a myriad of water activity.
The Inter Coastal Waterway can be navigated from
Texas to Maine with only a few detours out to the
ocean. The marshy plains give a sense of openness
that seems to be an integral part of Florida, an
essentially flat state.

After hanging out on the rickity piers but newer docks
of their neighbors Ann and Frank prepared a large
shrimp feast topped off with key lime cheesecakes.
All of this of course after we visited as much of the
history in all the photos, jogging fading memories,
soaking up as much as I could of any of the details and
colors from each room, print, baseball collection, record
collection and even Norm’s (Frank’s dad) old lovingly
restored 68 chevy pick up. The years go by so fast with
paths so divergent that coming around again to however
briefly cross trails and touch bases is what life is  much
about. These rekindlings are both sad for time apart and
at the same time happy at eye contacts and seeing those
familiar facial expressions. There are always dreams still
to be explored and new times to treasure.   .

The next morning JoAnn and I caught up on much
needed laundry then headed to the beach again for
walks and watched he dolphins breech and surf for a
long time. The water was pleasantly warm and the sun
hot and I ended up with a pocket full of shells I could
not resist. They will probably end up on the picnic
table when we leave.
That evening we headed back to Frank’s to watch what

ended up to be the last game of the 2010 World Series
between San Francisco and Texas. Frank a die hard fan
of SF has been waiting for 50 years for SF’s time in the
sun and it was to happen this night. Nothing like a
winning game to whoop things up.

I had a little difficulty recognizing some streets at
night so with grumpiness I relinquished the driving
back to camp to Jo.

On our last full day in Jax we tried the beach again in the
morning but it was chilly and overcast with dark grey
rain clouds moving down from the north. So its back to
camp to clean up the trailer in preparation for moving on
down the road... with great reluctance.
We did however get together one last time to see Amy,
their daughter, who was only 8 years old the last time I
saw her. She is now a mother of two and we met up
with Frank, Ann, and Amy, and her son Jack, to watch
Amy’s daughter Rachel play in a school volleyball
tournament. It could not have been a more brief meeting.
Amy couldn’t have dinner with us as her two kids kept
her too busy from one event to another. It was
disappointing not being able to talk with her after so
many years but it appears that she has turned out to
be quite the lady thanks to Ann and Frank.

As our last supper we sat down for some Philly Cheese
Steak sandwiches and YuengLing beers, a heaping stack
of fries and talk of the sixties and past beginnings.

Not wanting to say adios.

Trailing off with talk of future connections some where,
some time.

Thanks to Frank and Ann for taking the time. Time
being in some inexplicable way the only constant
that is real.

The only reality that is constant.

See you down the road...