When you were a kid did you ever see one of these illustrated maps of the United States … and want to walk into it. I daydreamed I could. The giggling marlins and dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico seemed as exotic as aliens yet as welcoming as old friend. I had never been south of Virginia and I didn’t know anyone who had swam in Gulf of Mexico. But in my head I would imagine I stayed next door to the kid in Flipper and we’d be in the water as much as we weren’t. We play outside until sunset and we’d go exploring first thing in the morning.

I’m an adult now, but Molly and I spent the last day in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on the Gulf of Mexico on one of the biggest and longest beaches I’ve ever seen. Dolphins, pelicans and herons roam the coast and rabbits, bobcats and alligators the swamps. And I know those giggling marlins are out there, just a couple miles out where the continental shelf drops off to the oceanic abyss. And the dolphins we saw, just 30 feet off the beach. Yes, this is Alabama (or America I should say) and the offshore oil rigs and the beachy tonks and condo high rises are off in the distance, but I’m in the painting and it would be okay if that didn’t ever change. Plus, there are beers and blender drinks in the adult version.

Click to see full-size pix.