The time had finally come—Emily was graduating! After a three-year tour in Spain with the U.S. Navy, she was now stationed at NAS Pensacola, and we couldn’t have been prouder. We had talked about heading down for her graduation, and when the big day came close, we knew we wouldn’t miss it.
🚗 The Early Bird Gets the Brisket
We hit the road bright and early Saturday morning. And by early, I mean 4 a.m. alarm, 5 a.m. wheels rolling. With a five-hour drive ahead of us, we aimed to meet Emily by 10 a.m. — and more importantly, meet her brand new puppy, Benny Lane.
Let me just say: Benny has the energy of a toddler who drank espresso. He was adorable, full of personality, and made an instant impression (mainly on our shoes and legs).
✈️ Museum Tour & BBQ Traditions
Our first stop was the National Naval Aviation Museum — a must-see if you’re ever in Pensacola. After exploring aircraft displays, soaking up history, and possibly rescuing Benny if he was with us on the visit from chewing on a helicopter tire (don’t ask), we made our way to Sonny’s BBQ for lunch.
Sonny’s has become our Pensacola tradition, and Emily's favorite is their BBQ salad. Joining us were Mary, Emily’s grandparents, and Meemaw. Good food, good laughs, and that Southern BBQ charm — what more could you ask for?
😴 Power Naps & Pizza
After lunch, we checked into our downtown Pensacola hotel. Running on fumes, we all agreed that a nap was non-negotiable. A few hours later, refreshed (sort of), we ordered a pizza, stayed in, and called it a night.
🛩️ Take Two at the Museum
Sunday morning, we headed back to the Aviation Museum to finish what we started. This time, we were determined to eat at The Cubi Bar Café, which we almost managed the day before — missed it by just 30 minutes! But Sunday? Victory. And yes, it was worth the wait.
After lunch, we hung out at Emily’s place for a while before heading out to Bavaria Pensacola, a German restaurant Emily picked for her going-away dinner.
We were joined by her Navy friends Jo, Pink, and Eli — names we’d heard a lot about, but were meeting for the first time. They didn’t disappoint. By the end of the night, it felt like we’d known them for years. And yes, I ordered the schnitzel. (Honestly, can you even go to a German place and not order schnitzel?)
🎓 Graduation Day – Finally in Person!
Monday morning brought the moment we’d been waiting for: Graduation Day.
This was actually our first time seeing Emily graduate in person. COVID had made her high school and boot camp graduations virtual, so this was incredibly special for all of us.
The ceremony was held at Corry Station Naval Base. We waited outside the gate for Emily, Pink, and Eli to escort us on base, and about 20 minutes later, we were in. The ceremony was short, formal, and filled with pride. Watching Emily and her classmates stand in formation and receive their certificates was a true proud Dad moment.
🍳 Brunch, Goodbyes & Rainy Days
After graduation, we headed downtown for brunch at The Ruby Slipper. The food was great, the conversation even better. But eventually, it was time for goodbyes — to Emily, Pink, Eli, Mary, and the grandparents. It was bittersweet, but that’s how life works sometimes.
Emily headed back to Georgia, while we stayed one more night. Our original plan? A relaxing beach day. But Mother Nature had other plans — it rained all day long. So... what did we do? That’s right: another nap. When in doubt, sleep it out.
That evening, we ventured out to Crabs in Gulf Breeze for dinner. Rain or shine, the food didn’t disappoint. Full and content, we headed back to the hotel to pack for the trip home.
🏠 The Perfect Ending
Tuesday morning, we checked out and hit the road back to Alabama. But before we even made it home, Christie messaged Emily and asked if she wanted to grab dinner. That evening, we met up in Bremen with Emily, Dawson, Harlie, and our sweet granddaughter Lucy.
It was the perfect ending to a short but meaningful trip — filled with family, pride, laughter, and just the right amount of schnitzel.
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