Office 2010 Key blog a-destin-state-of-mind

Hurricanes suck. But over and above the obvious destruction of lives and home lies harm of an additional kind … the loss of normal elegance. I didn’t grow up on the coast, but I grew up visiting it. Each August my family would load the car and drive down to Destin,Microsoft Office 2007 Standard, Florida for our annual vacation. Destin was several then. My mother tells stories of driving 30 minutes just to buy groceries. You came to Destin to unwind and relax. There was really nothing else to do. But as I grew,Windows 7 Ultimate Key, the town also grew. Today, grocery stores litter every corner, and if you aren’t struck down by the whizzing traffic,Office 2010 Key, you can buy your food in 30 seconds. The hustle and bustle of the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” can make your blood pressure rise, but sitting a short spell on your Gulf front balcony can wash all your worries away. When I was young,Office Standard, sea oats and sand dunes majestically marked the entrance to a single of the world’s most beautiful beaches. In 1995, Hurricane Opal swept through the region and, in addition to inflecting massive structural harm, took much of the area’s all-natural splendor with her. For the last several years, major restoration projects have lined the beaches. “Sea oat restoration in process.” “Restore our sand dunes.” I last visited Destin about a year ago, and I remember thinking how the awe of her beaches almost matched the childhood impression still locked in my memory. Florida has endured four hurricanes during the past several weeks, and luckily,Office Pro Plus 2010 Key, only a single hit Destin. Unluckily, her beaches took quite a hit. Below are some “before” and “after” shots taken from my parents’ condominium complex. I share them - not as evidence of the harm Mother Nature can inflict - but as a reminder of renewal and eventual triumph. I may sound overdramatic, but to me Destin represents much a lot more than a vacation destination. I enjoyed summers there. I recuperated during my winter holidays there. I was even married there. My bedroom here in Washington is decorated to make me feel like I’m always in Destin. To me, Destin is that state of mind you visit when you want to feel complete and at peace. We all have our own Destin. I know she’ll bounce back. I just want her to feel complete and at peace again. gretchen The pool - Before The pool - After (And, no, the tile is not covered with sand. It blew away. The pool is basically an "above ground pool" sitting atop a bed of sand.) The boardwalk - Before (C'mon. I had to throw a wedding shot in there!) The boardwalk - After Just had to show how there is no a lot more pool deck. I hear the beach is incredibly accessible from the pool now. :(