"On my highway I missed some signs And left a damn good life behind, I see it in my rearview like a…read moreghost.
On my highway, I've broken down
And cried when no one else was around & prayed that God would save my soul. Yeah, I've paid a lot of heavy tolls.
But what a feeling chasing the sun
Living my life like it's shot from a gun, laughing a little bit more with every mile. Oh, what a freedom racing the wind, dying to know what's around the next bend
And smiling as I watch the years roll by, I'm learning how to take it day by day, on my highway."
When I was growing up around these parts we lived for summer break & beautiful Mexico Beach.
Highway 98 runs from Pirate'cola to Mexico Beach. We called it "Adventure Road" 2 & 1/2 hours of stunning beach after beach, sugar white sands & emerald green waters.
The most beautiful beaches in the United States are on the gulf of Mexico.
Navarre, Ft Walton Beach, Destin, Panama City etc., gorgeous beaches all the way down to desolate, Mexico Beach.
Back then, you could drive your truck right onto Mexico beach, build a campfire in the sand. Camp right beside the ocean. Those were the days my friend, those were the days.
My memories drift back often of Mexico Beach, us 3 kids on summer break. 16 Year olds going on 30, we were inseparable. Back then, I had a pink Flamingo colored side step Ford. My brother, his best friend moi boyfriend riding shotgun, in the back, a dog named "Masquerade" & 3 surf boards.
Those were the days, wild & free on "adventure road" my highway, just like Jason Aldean sings about in his song.
And yes, along the way, we have all paid a lot of heavy tolls.
October 2018 Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach with 160 mile per hour winds & a 17-and-a-half-foot storm surge. It was a Category 5 hurricane, one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States.
Now, here we are, 5 years later. I'm back on my highway, "Adventure Road" back to Mexico Beach & it has never been more beautiful.
It's been years, but here we are. Sunsets lost, have been again found, and the sound of the waves mingle with the familiar voices of all the ones we lost, along the way.
As the waves roll by, their voices linger, for a while, then drown silently, in the sound of the crashing swells, washing away into a blur.
Some things have changed, but many, remain the same, as Mexico Beach, re-emerges anew.
As the sun goes down on Mexico Beach, the old memories wash away in the foamy white tides like old scattered photographs. Faded memories of a flamingo pink Ford rolling down adventure road..
My brother, his best friend moi boyfriend, riding shotgun, in the back, a dog named "Masquerade" & 3 surf boards..
Welcome back Mexico Beach.
