Mexican Train pulls into Mobile (Hampton Inn) Wednesday Night - Day 1 of Coastal Trip

OK, here is the quick version of Wednesday night. After supper, Marvin and I stopped into the hospitality area of the Hampton Inn located on the Battleship/Pensacola side of Mobile. We wanted to pick up information on the USS Alabama and overheard some ladies having fun with dominos.  Marvin went over and began the conversation and one of the ladies demonstrated the “Whoo-whoo” sound that can be chimed by pressing a domino-button in the center of the board when a player is blocked or when a new Train is started.  The ladies had a Silver “Train case” for their set and we commented on that. (Gotta get one of those.)  Then, I said, “Where are ya’ll from?” 

Short story:  Bartlett, Tennessee!... and they are mothers and sisters and daughters and friends who travel together.  This is a short tripfor them: Bellingrath Gardens, Outlet Malls, and Pensacola since Monday.  They have been to Vermont, Yellowstone, and UP of Michigan on previous trips.  But, the ultimate small world: After the Bartlett High School connection is made, the party is on.

One of the ladies, Julia Frost,  is in Barbara Polk’s Sunday School class. For those readers unfamiliar with Bartlett HS, Barbara is the perennial Queen of Everything at BHS.  I told Mrs. Frost to tell Barbara she saw Jane and Jane and Marvin were on their way to see Cindy.  Another lady is the mom of Bartlett graduate Julie Mullinex and knows lots and lots of Bartlett students. 

So, now, in addition to the young couple from Chicago that we met at a Mississippi Rest Stop (all of which get 4 Stars for accessibility, cleanliness, design and décor, and safety), we can add four ladies from Shelby County!  The Chicago couple drove past us and waved – on their way to New Orleans.  The ladies are returning to Memphis tomorrow.  They’ll see Barbara on Sunday. I think she'll be surprised!