The moral of this story is that the blog actually has fans.  There are people that come to it on a weekly basis, hungering for new pictures and posts.  I did not know that until recently. 

 

So I got an email from my aunt Betty in Jacksonville.  She and her coworkers apparently read the blog.  Good to know someone besides my mother-in-law does!  Anyhow, she works at an organization called Arc Jacksonville.  You can read more about the organization here, but in a nutshell they provide advocacy and quality services that enable people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential, enhance their quality of life and be active participants in their communities. (yes, that was a copy and paste from their site).

 

So back to her email.  The Arc was just as caught up in this whole crazy Gator Nation as everyone else.  Winning three championships in 366 days will do that to you.  So they wanted to host a "Gator Appreciation Day" with the people they serve.  What a great idea!  And what could make people appreciate tha Gators more than a short bus?  Nothing was the answer there in case you didn't realize it was a rhetorical question.

 

So we loaded up the bus and drove to Jax.  Jacksonville, that is.  Swimming Pools, movie stars. 

 

We made it there just in time for lunch, as the Arc crew was setting up a feast fit for a king...hot dogs, chips, assorted cookies, the works!  We erected the flag (I'm just going to skip right over that one), turned on the music and it was time to start appreciating.  The Arcians (just made that word up) came out, grabbed some grub, and took turns touring and signing the bus. 

 

Most seemed impressed, save for the two FSU fans in attendance. I've never seen someone angrier at a bus.  The guys like Abe and Lester and the rest of the gang had a great time sitting inside the bus and listening to music.  The fans outside also had fun when Megan switched the tunes from the Gator fight songs to Fergilicious.  Those Arcians can dance!

 

The Arc staff even had "Go Gators" rally towels donated for the event, which made a great takeaway.  Megan and I were even asked to autograph one.  That brings me back to the moral of the post.  We have fans!  Or, maybe it's just "fan."  We can't be sure yet.

 

Thanks again to everyone at Arc, especially Aunt Betty, for inviting us over.  It was our pleasure, and we will see you again in the Fall for sure at the Florida v. Georgia game in Jax!