Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Family Fun Weekend Ahead!



This weekend is the Jacksonville Beach Air Show!  Normally it is every other year at the beach, but in 2010 and 2011 they were at the Naval Air Station on the opposite side of town.  That was because the 2011 air show marked the 100 year anniversary of Naval Aviation, so they had it there 2 years in a row.

So this year it is especially cool cause not only are we living at the beach, but we'll have visitors!  Specifically my sister Jen, Mom and Bro-in-law David and the star of the show, the most adorable nephew in the world, Max!  We're so looking forward to it. 

Max at 7 months, isn't he just the cutest thing ever?!
Max is getting so big so quick!  I got to see him over Labor Day weekend in NY, but since then he had a few teeth grow in and he's crawling as well.  He's growing up too quick if you ask me!  Unfortunately Michelle and James can't make it, she's no longer able to fly for obvious reasons

Max checking out some pumpkins last weekend.
Normally I don't get overly excited for an air show, since my memories of air shows prior to here are from Rochester, NY and the two times I went it was hot as heck and you'd wander into a plane or two and it was even hotter inside and over the course of the hour you sweated your arse off and saw maybe 3-4 planes go by.


This is nothing like that!  While you are just chilling out, relaxing on the beach enjoying the sunshine, you see planes which at times seem like they're within arms reach away.  Some of them are literally right there in your face, like the one shown above.  And you have such a wide angle to view the whole show that it's really like nothing you've ever seen, unless of course you've seen an air show at the beach.  I'm especially looking forward to checking things out from the back deck, because I think we'll be able to see them approach from the inland side and make their way out to the beach.


One of the most memorable moments for me personally was here during one of the airshow weekends.  It was over 5 years ago and I had a terrible prior week of on-call.  My job was really getting to me and that day was the first break that I had in quite a long time.  I had off on a Friday following the prior week's on-call.  I went to the beach just to sit and do nothing and I don't think I was aware they do practice runs on Friday before the big air show Sat/Sun.  I was sitting there enjoying the break and out of no where, the planes started to fly in.  It was truly the break I needed right at the perfect moment and was something I won't soon forget. 

The last year they had it here, in 2009 there were 400,000 people in town for the event!  I just looked up the population of Jacksonville beach and it is 21,523.  :-o  Since this year they didn't have fireworks here at the beach for the 4th of July and the air show hasn't been here since 2009, I have a feeling this will be even bigger than 2009!


And a "cold" front is coming through on Friday, but that only means that it will be high 70s/low 80s for highs and high 50s for lows.  Typically it is low 80s for highs and high 60s/low 70s for a low this month.  That will be a little cooler than normal, but that will probably be perfect weather for hanging all day watching the show.

We can't wait for Max and the crew to arrive.  We've had way more guests than normal since moving to the beach, but these will be our first overnight guests!  If you happen to be in the area, stop on by for the show!


5 comments :

Jen said...

We are looking forward to taking Max to the beach! Not so much the drive, but hopefully that will go smoothly. He is such a big boy, just wait till ya see him.

Chris said...

Yeah, I can't stand long drives and I imagine with buddo it's way more complicated. Hopefully things so super smooth. Cya soon!

Mock family said...

sounds like fun!! boooooooooo

Chris said...

Bummer you guys can't be here, not that we'd have room for that many anyhow, but still would be good to see everyone. We'll Facetime it up.

Gigi said...

Two words: Road Trip!!

 
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