LIVING ON THE WATER

Art and Barbara were friends of Mike's a long time ago – perhaps we could say almost in another lifetime. We have exchanged Christmas cards for years and we know how to contact electronically. When we told them we were coming to Moss Point, they graciously invited us over for a boat ride and dinner.

Using sketchy GPS directions, we found our way to the right street. "But I don't know the address," lamented Mike. What is that about "always prepared?" It seemed ironic at the time, seeing we were in town for a Boy Scout Troop reunion. Well, for once I was prepared and pulled out my address book. Not only had I thought to throw it in my green bag as we were leaving the house but the bag was still in the car. Never mind that it all came together rather by accident.

Art and Barbara have a beautiful home on the bayou of the Pascagoula River – one of those homes like you see in magazines with a lush backyard extending to the water's edge. They explained how they had waited for just the right house "on the water" to be their retirement home. Some years back they expanded the deck to include play equipment for the grandchildren. Down on the water is a boat shed housing their boat and wave runners. They invited Mike to ride the wave runner with me on behind and follow them in their boat. We had never ridden a wave runner, and the experience was not without – well, experience. The advantage to us was a firsthand experience on the bayou that we would not have had otherwise. The tour included an "alleyway" of houseboats. We were reminded of "Boiling Pot," Bennie's summer home on the Ouachita River. We stopped on a sandbar for a cold drink where we threw sticks for the dogs to chase. Barbara said that grunting sound we heard was an alligator and we watched the dogs more closely. I think they feel about the alligators as we do about rattlesnakes – they aren't particularly aggressive but you don't want to invite an incident. Afterwards we enjoyed a home-cooked meal at the house – a welcome change from "road fare."

During the meal, Art told us about his life after initial retirement. He has continued to work in one capacity or another. Especially interesting was his involvement in a church program to rebuild homes after Katrina. We admire Art for sharing his management and construction talents to help those devastated by the hurricane. Living 2,000 miles from here, we just don't hear much about these grassroots efforts. Art and Barbara also told us of difficulties homeowners have experienced in achieving insurance settlements for hurricane damage. Katrina is still very much on the minds of the people here. KW