Mother's Day Gallery

  MOTHER'S DAY - 2023

In yet another week where the world seems to be falling down around our ears, lost to both decency and sanity, I am clinging to the wonder of celebrating Mother's Day with my Orlando-area family and having the opportunity to see so many others doing the same—from a fiftyish "child" hosting her seventyish mother on our tourboat out of Merritt Island to three generations in a restaurant that evening, helping a young mother celebrate her very first Mother's Day while holding her newborn on her lap.

Before presenting some of the photos from our Mother's Day celebrations . . . here is a very special pic from the Orlando Sentinel (May 18, 2023). Brightline will start high-speed service between Miami and Orlando sometime this summer, with a brand-new multi-million dollar terminal at Orlando International Airport. Also completely new, the railroad tracks themselves, from pristine light gray trap rock to shining rails and signal boxes. And since the tracks parallel the 528, the beeline superhighway from Orlando to the coast (turning south just before the Intracoastal Waterway), we got a good look for something like thirty miles. Unfortunately, we were going too fast to take a decent photo from a side window, but it was quite a sight. So thanks to the Sentinel for providing this photo of two Brightline locomotives in the Orlando terminal. (I have always loved trains, and really enjoyed getting a sneak peek at this long-awaited new service.)

We usually celebrate Mother's Day with dinner at home—last year, Cassidy created an absolutely amazing Baked Brie event for eleven!—but this year we ventured down a new path: a boat tour on the Banana River, followed by dining out at a fancy restaurant on the Orlando/Winter Park line. Below are a few of the many photos taken by my daughter Susie and her husband Mike, plus one or two by me. (It should be noted that Riley predominates because Hailey hates to have her picture taken and Cassidy was working at Texas Steakhouse, although she was able to join us later for dinner.)

Geographical note: Merritt Island is actually a peninsula, separated from the mainland by two saltwater waterways, misnamed "rivers." The Indian River is just east of the mainland; the Banana River closer to the Atlantic. The mainland is connected to Merritt Island by a bridge over the Indian River, a causeway over the more shallow Banana River.

On board, with hats in place

Mom w/ 2 of 3 daughters (Hailey pouting)

Below, on our way from the dock to the Banana River, we passed the causeway where so many come to watch the launches from the Space Center. The view now includes this derelict boat (one of several), unsalvaged since last fall's hurricanes.

The Banana River

Visible at our turning point - NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building

Close-up by Mike

 As part of her Mother's Day celebration Susie wanted to go to the beach, so we GPS-ed it to the nearest public access, which was down a narrow street lined with summer-cottage-like homes and pulled up at a dead-end with about five parking spaces, all full. We parked in "Motorcycles only" while Susie and Riley did a 10-minute peek at the beach, which resulted in some surprisingly artistic photos. (I include only two of many.)

Walkway from beach to parking

And finally, Cassidy was able to join us. Below, all three grandgirls walking through the restaurant parking lot.

Only Riley appears to be looking where she is going.

Or maybe Riley is catching Mom taking their photo from our "roofed" outdoor table.

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For a link to Blair's website, click here.

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Grace (Blair Bancroft)