1984 Florida 1 (4/17-18/1984)

Tuesday, April 17, 1984

Kent dropped me off at TF Green Airport in Warwick, nice basic facility. I checked in for the 9:40 Eastern Airlines flight to Atlanta. Left late at 10:00 and stopped in Hartford, CT. Arrived in Atlanta on time at 12:55. It was promised that Providence was to be sunny and 60 degrees. Here it was overcast and in the 40s! Checked in for the 13:54 flight to Pensacola, but it was delayed by a hydraulic leak. Left at 14:30, and arrived after a nauseating bumpy ride at 14:30, local time! Waited in line at Avis and rented a blue Dodge Omni automatic, the cheapest thing available. Drove off towards Eglin AFB. Everything looked flat and spacious, and neat and clean, and green! The sky was blue with cumulus clouds, and the temperature was pleasant. Drove over a blue Pensacola Bay. Stopped at a mall to try to call Kathy J, but the phone was busy. So kept driving. Drove into the airfield by mistake, and had to turn around to go much farther. Got a visitor’s pass at the gate, and tried to find the J’s residence. Drove clear through to the other side, but on my way back I found Ash Drive and #115-A. Cinder block building, but very nice inside. Saw Mikayla at the upstairs window. Kathy has a cute haircut, and Mikayla and Angela are growing up. Danielle is still such a baby! Got to read to Mikayla and Angela before they went to bed. Rod didn’t get home until 22:30 after his class.

Wednesday, April 18, 1984

Saw to the crying Danielle as Deronda, the girl for whom Kathy provides day care, arrived.

Kathy, Rod, Danielle
Mikayla, Deronda, Angela

After breakfast, we took the girls and I drove to Pensacola. We found the historic Seville District with its usually one-story homes around a large square with a gazebo and gas lamps.

Seville Historic District square

We began going through the many shops, all specialty shops including a Mole Hole. Kathy bought a Christian book for Rod.

Seville Histrical District Map

We also passed little trendy restaurants and checked out the lunch specials. We wandered to the Dorr House to be shown around by an interesting older woman with red-streaked graying hair, but who was a bit inarticulate and not totally knowledgeable. But interesting… 

Dorr House

The house had jib windows that opened to the floor onto the porches. A chandelier could be lowered to refill the oil lamps. A wringer in the kitchen was for the towel to cover the biscuit dough when rising. Unusual that the kitchen was attached to the house in a time when fires were a problem. We each left a dollar donation.

House in the Seville Historic District

Another house in the Seville Historic District

We tried to have lunch at a deli, but it wasn’t to open until Friday! Found Mr. P’s Wine and Sandwich for soup and salad that came with slices of bread and butter, for only $3.36 each, plus we left a 50 cent tip.

We also went to the Pensacola Historical Museum located in the old Christ Church, one of the oldest Florida churches on its original foundation. It has also served as a barracks, prison hospital, and chapel during the Civil War. The museum displayed local artifacts including clothing (bathing suits form the 1930s!), silver, bottles, Indian artifacts, glass, photos, antiques, maps and manuscripts. We left about 16:00 and drove back to Kathy’s place. After dinner we drove to Valparaiso to a big discount store, TG&Y, then to Piggly Wiggly for groceries.

I had done a couple algebra problems for Rod. Then up to “my” room for bed. I am sleeping in Danielle’s room on Angela’s bed.