Mobile with Mark-Winter Southern

Mark's playing tennis at a high level is giving us opportunities to go to places where I never thought we would be going! In February especially-ahaha. 

Well, Mobile Tennis Center was hosting Winter Southern tournament this year, so we decided to go. I was able to find some tickets with miles with Delta and so we got to fly rather than drive a 10.5 hr drive. 

This is Mark's first year of playing 14s, so he is still among the "young ones". 

Right after we arrived and checked into the hotel we were able to meet up with one of our neighbor friends from Alconbury times--Lashea Russell! It was so awesome to catch up and to see how small this world is!

As you can see, it was sunny but always cold for me to sit and watch him play. This was also one of the last tournaments that we took a picture and Mark was shorter than me... Mark did pretty well, winning a couple of matches but having to retire in the last match because of back pain.

Mark knows how to change his racket grips, thankfully. 

And this is Saahil, Mark and Dani. They all train with Cameron Moore in Cary. Mark played a really tough match, three sets. At some point, he tweaked his back and couldn't serve properly in the tiebreak. He even tried to serve underhand which is definitely not a typical trick for him. Somehow, even being injured, he pulled it off and won that match. And he got the sportsmanship award as well! 

Mark and a few more friends--Connor, Saahil and Ryan. 

Bridget drove all the way from the Fort Walton Beach area to meet up with me and watch Mark play! It was so fun to see her and spend the whole day with her! 

This time in Mobile, we also went to visit USS Alabama. 

Massive ship! We explored it with Mark's friend, Brianna. 

It's always more fun to sightsee with friends! 

We learned quite a bit about the wartime from the exhibit, although I could tell Mark was doing this out of obligation:) 

We also stopped by a veterans' memorial right next to USS Alabama. 

After our tournament was over, we had some time to burn, so we drove to Biloxi, Mississippi! We just pretty much drove there for lunch, hung out on the beach with Connor and his mom and then drove to the Mobile airport. 

Mark in Mississippi! 

Lunch at Shaggy's. Mark chooses shrimp every time he gets a chance. 

Mama and Mark on the beach in Biloxi. 

I mean, what else do you do on the beach? play tennis! 

Sadly, I left my AWESOME purple coat that I boat from Costco for $10 on the plane from Atlanta. We got bumped to first class with Mark and I “paid” with my coat. I was seriously fixated on the idea of finding that coat for weeks. Sadly, I had no luck although I knew exactly where I left it....

Anyway! Till next time, Mobile!!!

Lyana.