Waxahatchie, Texas: Three days exploring

Marty Note - It's almost Thanksgiving and I didn't realize I had not published this posting! Old age is creeping in. Apologies.
Marty Note 2 - It's now January 2020 - WHERE did the last couple months go????  At least post-dating allows to to time travel backwards, sort of!

Continuing my Texas adventure from September.

Still here in the Lone Star State. Now to catch you up on the happenings in Marty-Land.

Monday, September 9 - I spent the morning at Cee's working on her website as she is not a pro at that. I made labels for her that she's been wanting for quite some time. It felt good to be useful and doing something. Had lunch at her cafe. Excellent chicken teriyaki with spice sauce. I would gain 50 pounds if I stayed here and ate here all the time.

Saw Don Meredith's museum, as this was his hometown. Cee is right, there's a lot of potential here if only the town's movers and shakers would move and shake!!!

Tuesday, September 10 - Saying good bye was harder than I anticipated. We stalled so long that she was almost late to an insurance meeting. I stopped long enough to have a codfish taco, another hug, then on the road to retrieve Mary Todd and her new fuel pump. I stopped in Mineola, TX at a wonderful quilt shop (Stitchin' Heaven) that was having a moving sale. I spent way too much money but the fabric was irresistable. Rhoda and Jean and Letreze will laugh at me, I don't care. in my secret heart, I know they'll be envious!

When I got settled in the hotel, I called Stan and discovered that my gut feeling this morning had been correct - I shoudl have called before I left Cee's to verify Mary Todd's condition. It seems when the pump was installed and the requisite diagnostic run, the numbers wouldn't match. When the pump was re-installed and garnered the same test results, the service guys worked on her for a while, then, stymied, opened a hot-line account to Ford sending all the accumulated data. No we're waiting on their report. And I have at least one more day in Waxahatchie.

Wednesday, September 11 - Findings - the computer needed to be replaced. AND, they needed my spare key. Bless Letreze, she overnighted it to me, due by 3 tomorrow afternoon.  Soo, another night in the hotel for me. The difference - this time I have a car.

I scouted out events in the area and after talking with FB - off I went to Ft, Worth, a city about which I knew nothing except that Errol Flynn made a movie here back in the day.

I had a blast! I went to two Aviation museums and got to explore inside a working B-17 Flying Fortress that was in town for three days. I did decline to spend nearly $500 to go for a ride in her, but only because my discretionary income is being sucked up in hotel costs! Stupid, I know but I just couldn't get myself to do it. Plus, those seats were NOT made for someone my size.

Gary, my tour guide at Antique Aviation showed off the 25 planes they have on display, inlcuding the three he actualy piloted uring his career.  I don't think I've ever spent time with a Vietnam vet pilot who flew just-above-the-ground sorties dropping off or gathering in Special Forces teams. He let me into the cockpit and "haulage" area of the modified plane. We had a good time chatting. I shared Solent Sky with him and the PBY stories I learned there. He even replied to the email I shared containing that museum's information. The museum has the plane Tom Cruise "flew" in Top Gun, which didn't really appeal to me as much as the Special Forces plane.  

My next stop was to see the Flying Fortress. The B-17 was on the runway at the Vintage Flying Museum, just down the road from the other museum. The difference is these planes actually fly,  they're not just for looking at and ogling. If I lived here, I swear I'd be poor!! Again, I spent nearly an hour poking around and in this awesome plane. Part of that time was with Dan who actually was on this plane's crew back in war and he told me stories about bombing runs. Amazing!

I am astounded that a 6 foot tall airman could wrap himself into the belly gun! My immediate reaction was recite part of the "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" by Randall Jarrell, which Dan recognized!!! (That's not Dan in this picture.)

Then I stuck my head and shoulders up into the belly of the plane to see where the bombs would have been.

Saying goodbye to this day was tough, but my time was exhilarating! I was devastated to read a few weeks after I left Ft. Worth that one of the other 8 remaining functioning Flying Fortresses had crashed during a living history flight. yet another reminder that despite their size, they are delicate machines. Now I wish I just spend the dang money!!!

I stopped by the Stockyards, but after driving around the parking lots for 20 minutes and finding never an opening, I decided it was not in the cards and drove back to my hotel.

Still In Texas - But now west of Dallas

Saturday, September 7 - I read and walked a bit this morning. Still not feeling antsy about anything. After lunch I called Stanley at Autoplex asking for an update on Mary Todd. Turns out she needs a new high pressure fuel pump which would not be in until Tuesday. (I did not groan!) The good news  - my extended warranty covered everything but a smallish deductible! I asked if he could recommend a rental car facility and he asked me to give him a bit to see what he could do.

While I waited, Emily (Hampton Inn Desk clerk) rearranged my stay so have me back here Tuesday for the night at same price and cancelled tomorrow night's stay. Cee was okay with me coming for tomorrow and leaving Tuesday morning. Stan called back -  the dealership would handle car rental and he'd send a guy to pick me up.

I was pleased to see Jacob again when his Jeep pulled up in front of the hotel. He'd dropped by work to see how my car was coming along. We chatted about golf and his son until we arrived at the Autoplex, where he sat me in the office and proceeded to give me a 2019 Fiesta to drive until Tuesday. I wasn't certain I'd fit in this teeny car, but it's actually rather comfortable. When I asked didn't I owe him money, he said it all gone on the warranty bill. We'll see. I 'm writing a great letter about him when this is all finished!

Sunday, September 8 - I spent the night at Hampton rather than arrive at Cee's late. Woke up at 6, packed up and left at 7 to arrive for breakfast at her home about 9. Traffic was not awful but driving this tiny car was a very different experience from Mary Todd. I was so much more aware of trucks than I normally am, my eye-line was about level with the tops of their tires!!

Cee was waiting at her front door when I drove up. She looks great! Her girls are good, but I'm kind of ashamed to admit it - we spent the afternoon just the two of us driving around her area and talking non-stop. We hardly took breaths as we caught each other up on all that's happened since we were last face-to-face, nearly a decade! It's like being with Barbara - we know each other so well, we pick up where ever we were when last we talked with no hesitation and no wondering. She remains as passionate, as opinionated, as determined as she has always been and I am still thankful she includes me in that small cadre of people she trusts.

Her cafe is small but comfortable and and her food is delicious!

Still talking, we watched THE LAST JEDI (I'm not sure how Joe and I missed that one in 2017.) while still talking! Yawning we hit the hay and she refused to allow me any guilt about sleeping in her bed while she was on the couch! A woman even more stubborn than I am!

Note: Today I kept looking at her thinking, "I can't believe we FINALLY made it to see each other!!" and,then, she pops out with the same sentiment!!

My Dorian Avoiding Adventure Continues

I left San Antonio yesterday with mixed thoughts. I thought Publix was a great grocery store but it pales compared to HEB.
  
I was glad to be driving again, I forget how I feel not-in-control when being a passenger, not bad but just a bit uncomfortable. Obviously, I am way too independent and self-reliant for my own good, sometimes. I had a wonderful time with Barbara; for more than 40 years (Damn!!!), we have been able to visit like we see each other every day regardless of how long our separations have been. I will own that FaceTime has made those times less frequent.

Her new house has become a home. It wraps you in her warmth and conviviality as you walk in the door, despite Oliver barking up a storm in his need to protect her. What a simple joy when he accepted me and licked my fingers as I sat on the couch.

Anyway, back to the adventure. I drove out of S.A. with the intent of visiting the yarn shop that had been closed Wednesday when we visited New Braunfels. It’s called Lucky Ewe and is delightful. Spent upwards of an hour there.

Driving on I-35 is not for the faint of heart: it reminds me of the beltway around DC or I-4 through Orlando - bumper to bumper at speed, unless there’s a crawling, exhaust breathing slow down. Both experiences are to be had going from San Antonio to Dallas. The only plus was I caught several great glimpses of the majesty of the Texas Capitol Building.

When I realized I had missed the turn off to head cross country through the back roads (construction and trying to avoid huge semis), I just sighed and waited for I-20 to appear. Just before the turn off, Mary Todd had trouble accelerating and her little engine warning symbol appeared. I pulled off at the first exit with multiple hotels and gas stations, figuring I would need both.

While registering at the Hampton Inn, I asked about garages. The man also registering, directed me to the Autoplex across the highway. I listened to him talking with the clerk and he was saying he and his wife and sons were here because their home had burned down the night before. (OMG!) He and his wife were at church preparing for an event, the sons were in the house sleeping. A guy driving by seeing the flames and the car parked in front, pounded on the door til the boys came out. All safe. He told me was glad to help me, I felt silly being even a little bit upset with Mary Todd. Moments like that remind me to be thankful.

At the Autoplex, I talked with Jacob, the Service Manager, who had stopped on his way home to ask what my car was parked in front of the bay doors. He took over my case, drove me to the hotel and assured me his people would get with me today. Gave me the contact info for his guy.

I am unhurt, in a great hotel, with a credit card, books and yarn. And a bathroom.

The adventure continues!

Giving in to Dorian and Not Regretting It

Friday, August 30 -  I decided to admit being afraid of a Category 3 hurricane and buttoned up my home as best I could, brought my three unplanted plants to Kitty to watch over and let Sonny and Letreze and Jean know I was bugging out in the morning. Still concerned that the windows might blow in, I dragged Barbara's rug up off the floor in the Florida room to my bedroom and removed everything from the freezer and refrigerator except for a package of chicken.

Saturday, August 31 - I did one last scan of the yard and drove out

to begin my journey to visit Barbara in Texas and to run away from Dorian. I-10 was actually barren going west; going east was another story as convoy after convoy after convoy of power company trucks, water tankers and National Guard caravans headed toward Florida's Atlantic coast and the hurricane. Rhoda and I talked and congratulated ourselves on heading out before the rush. The hurricane was moving slowly and not expected to reach the state until Tuesday. I spent the night in Pascagoula, Mississippi as I intended to top at a local quilt shop, but it closed early for Labor Day weekend. DURN!! Very, very nice Hampton Inn!!!

 Sunday, September 1 - Another easy drive day. Mary Todd and I breezed through the Mobile tunnel with ease. Again power company trucks headed west. I called FB to have lunch while I was gassing up just outside Baton Rouge, but he was busy. Talked with him later and explained I was doing trip in reverse. Tonight I stayed in Beaumont, Texas. Stopped at the Welcome Station to snap a picture - I am an unabashed tourist! Again my post hotel check-in plans were thwarted - the traffic on I-10 was not hard but was slowed repeatedly due to construction, thus I arrived too late to tour Spindletop or the Botanical Gardens. Another sigh.

Monday, September 2 - Diving through Winnie, Texas, I thought "and people think Florida is flat!" Arrived in San Antonio. Barbara's house is awesome. We downloaded a map of San Antonio and The Alamo so we could navigate tomorrow. Julie and Andre stopped by with dinner so I could meet Izzy. They are charming and she is delightful.


Tuesday, September 3 - The Alamo - great chats with Frederick about the Alamo Oak. (Why hasn't Stephen Malkoff drawn it?), with one of the Living History re-enactors about the 18 pound cannon used in the battle and with Robert about the history of the 16 pound cannon in front of the mission (which was actually a Mexican one buried by Santa Anna's men when it wasn't possible to blow it up as was done with others).  Toured the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum and gawked over Bonnie and Clyde's actual car and the fabulous letter from Clyde to Henry Ford, enjoyed great tacos, snapped a selfie of me and an elephant skull, Barbara checked out a Long Horn, saw the bow a Texas hunter used to kill all five major beasts in Africa. John Dixon would love this place - taxidermist's heaven!! Afterward, we had an ice cream while walking around first The River Walk, then the Japanese Tea Garden created out of an abandoned quarry and winner of multiple awards.Absolutely fabulous day!

Wednesday, September 4 - I am no longer an IKEA virgin. Barbara took me there and I spent less than $50 - a victory, she assures me. Then off to New Braunfils and two of Jean and Sherry's recommendations. Quilt Haus was excellent, but I couldn't find the backing for my long term quilt project. Naegelin's Bakery (the oldest in Texas celebrating its 150th birthday) was amazing and a deal breaker in my sticking to Weight Watchers as I lunched on a kolache and a molasses cookie. The white chocolate fudge will be a gift as it was loaded with nuts. Driving home I realized Texas has no dirt, just ground up rock! Becky, Barbara and i headed over to the Vargas domicile for a brief visit - I was insanely complimented when Julie told me I was family so I could see her house in imperfect condition. A true warm fuzzy! Izzy sat with me on the patio while I snapped a gorgeous sunset. Barbara is going to partner with me in Fantasy Football next year!!!

 Thursday, September 5 - Headed to Fredericksburg, Texas Wine Country via Blanco and the picturesque Blanco River. At One Quilt Place, I found my backing. Well, Barbara found it. I am so excited - I can now hand the quilt to Jean and use it this winter!!!  Lunch at Emma and Ollie was succulent - Barbara's shrimp Poor Boy rivaled my Salmon Cobb Salad. Neither of us was remotely peckish afterward. Inwood Winery was first on our list. Good stuff. great chat with vintner. Then across the street to 4.0 Winery where we ran into the same folks from Inwood and chatted as a previous customer had dropped her bag of bottles just as they were handed to her. We didn't taste, but purchased the McPherson's Sparkling Wine everyone raved about. Last stop Heath Sparkling Wines, an adjunct of Grape Creek Winery and the first sparkling wine only winery in the state! Just fabulous!! I splurged. I'll be well lubricated after I return to Florida.

 



T

Post trip thoughts about Boston and Cape Cod

I discovered almost as much about me this trip as I did about the area in which I was a child. In no particular order of importance or relevance, those realizations/discoveries are below.

• Apparently walking in sandals and flip-flops for decades has rendered me incapable of walking  in rubber-soled shoes on carpet. When I tripped over my own feet three times during our stay in Boston, Barbara got a bit nervous and I was compelled to do some serious analysis of the events. I was wearing my Brooks' running (well, in my case, walking) shoes so balance was not the issue. I walked for 4-5 hours each day on Boston's always changing pavement styles without stumbling once; it was only in the hotel that I fell. I deduced the difference was carpet. I live in a non-carpet house and almost no one i know has carpet - tile and hardwood floors are most common. My realization was that my sandal years had not induced me to lift my feet too much when I walk, consequently when I "slid" my feet on carpet, the rubber soled Brooks did not cooperate and BOOM! So, I spent the cape Cod portion of the trip muttering "Lift Feet" to myself when ever we encountered carpet. I am sure some folk thought I was demented or mumbling a spell!
• I need to be hydrated. The two mornings, I neglected to bring water with me, I got snappy and cranky. my good humor returned almost immediately after consuming liquid.
• I wonder how people who don't read exits on rainy days in a small condo. One reason Barbara and I vacation well together is that each of can disappear into  the printed words for long stretches of time. How incomparably fortunate we are that we can sit/sprawl in the same room for hours with our noses in books. 
• I function much better when I begin my day with a protein-based breakfast rather than a waffle-based one. 
• Though hugely overweight, I can walk for hours on mostly level ground; it's stairs and steps that slow me down. However, as Sheila has noted in the past, by the time a week has passed, those same stairs are no impediment, my leg muscles have reawakened themselves…just in time for me to return to the land of one-floor houses.
• I prefer staying in a place with a full working kitchen rather than spending a week with a microwave and a toaster. I have no idea how traveling sales people exist comfortably.
• Waiters, desk clerks and cashiers seem really surprised when you talk with them rather than at them. How sad is that! I suppose my tendency to chat with them is a remnant of my years as a waitress and cashier.
• After 4-5 days, I have to gird my loins to accept with patient good nature someone else driving me around everywhere. I'm sure it is a personal control issue, rather than a personality one. Or it's evidence of my decades of independence influencing my actions, like my reluctance to ask for help. 
• Sofa beds have improved immensely since I last slept on one 20 years ago!
• Beginning any day with a swan sighting is always a blessing!
• I have to admit to being a Floridian. I was aghast that folks were on the whale watch in shorts and t-shirts! My blood has definitely thinned.
• I LOVE the ocean! That instant when the bow spray hit my face on the ride out to see the whales and my tongue tasted salt water plunged me into one of those glow moments when time is suspended and you're just really, really happy!
• Barbara and I can disagree and still grin.
• I don't miss snow, but I do miss chilly air. I was so comfortable this trip, then I walked off the plane in Jax and thought, "Yikes! I'm in a sauna!" and grimaced. 
• Never leave home without your binoculars!
• Always check for a corkscrew before visiting a vineyard!

Logan to Hartsfield-Jackson to Home

We rose at 6, finished off most of the food in the condo, leaving only a couple of tomatoes, a bagel, some butter and a Snapple. Good food planning on our part.


Heading to Logan was easy. We made the right decision to travel so early and caught the city skyline clear enough to bid it "good bye."  

Logan was packed, as always. Barbara got her flight changed to mine (though a few rows behind me) and her relief at no longer having a time crunch to make her Brazil connection was obvious. The Delta Sky Club was a welcome haven for the 4.5 hours we had to wait until boarding our flight to Atlanta. Breakfast and lunch were enjoyed as we watched planes and read books, magazines, newspapers and tablets.

The express to Jacksonville takes less than an hour. Comfortable flight and I just enjoy watching clouds pass by underneath me! I always recite Magee's poem, "High Flight" in my head as I watch them float below. 

Letreze and Bill brought me home and I spent the night in my own bed! Hurrah!

Just heard from Barbara. She's safe in Porto Alegre, Brazil, having made all her connections!! 

I'll come back in a day or two with final thoughts on this trip. Keep watching. 

Final Cape Cod Days

Yesterday was a recovery day. Barbara’s ankle twinged all day, we believe due to the stresses put on it by standing on the deck of a moving 90 ton whale watcher vessel in the relatively mild seas of Cap Cod and Massachusetts Bays. My feet and ankles were okay but my face was kind of wind/sun burned, despite the mostly cloudy day. We did final laundry and pre-packing and suitcase weighing to assure no problems with our departure.

We took a brief break to indulge in Dairy Queen Blizzards. Actually we went there to have chicken sandwiches, only to discover this franchise only does hot dogs and ice cream. Who knew?? So, dessert our dinner. It is vacation, after all.

We stopped by the Bass outlet where I found a great backpack for $19.99!!! Barbara tried on shoes but found nothing to inspire here to break out the credit card.  Right next to the Bass store was a great cranberry bog, providing the perfect backdrop for our Cape Cod selfie.

Today we started out to tour Chatham Light, only to discover there are no tours, it’s a working lighthouse and an official U.S. Coast Guard station. BUT the view of the beach at low tide was worth the drive. Check out the video clip!

Our plan to visit the Cedar Springs Herb Farm, (“7 acres of  walking trails in a organic herbal oasis”) was stymied when the entrance proclaimed it “For Sale” so open by appointment only. Sigh. Kind of resigned, we headed back to the condo.

Speaking of the condo complex, it is more than full with weekend vacations for Memorial Day, evidenced by the fact the pool is loaded with very white people swimming and lying out in the sun. Also, the traffic is now Cape Cod usual - bumper to bumper on the highways in town.  This influx of people created a line at the Pirate Cove Miniature Golf place, so we passed on it, despite planning on playing a round in honor Jean and Hilton Head. Turned out the lines were evidence of the company’s 4th annual Play for Patriots fundraiser which happens on Memorial Day weekend!

So, we cleaned up Matilda, our trust Dodge mini-van in preparation for turning her back in tomorrow, ate the last of our food stores, final packed our luggage and went to bed to rise and get on the road tomorrow by 7:00 AM. We recognize that this will put us at Logan hours before our departure times, but each of us would rather be early than miss a flight.

It’s been an excellent holiday. We’re planning an encore in 5 years - to explore more of New England!

Whale watching

We got up too early and realized we had time before leaving for our whale watching excursion, so we read. I know, we’re kind of boring, but it helps immensely to have a travel-mate who likes the same things you do.

Good thing we arrived a bit early to Hyannis Whale Watch (which operates out of the town wharf in Barnstable...welcome to quirky Cape Cod) as we discovered the past three days’ trips had been cancelled due to excessive winds, hence OUR trip now included a group of high schoolers and a flock of junior high kids from Hartford, RI. Siting onboard waiting to leave port, we learned departure was delayed indefinitely as the RI kids’ bus was having issues and they were “in transit.” Barbara and I commiserated for those teachers/chaperones as the bus must have left before dawn!

The children were chatty and kind of hyped but not a problem, once you discounted the decibel level at which they communicated. Yet another indication that I am aging!  The ship went to Stellwagen Bank in search of whales and seals. We saw three grey seals and one 60’ fin whale, which surfaced three times very close to the boat. Unfortunately I wasn’t quick enough to catch a photo. But just seeing that behemoth so close was thrilling. Jon, the naturalist on board, said the whales were kind of scattered from their usual sites as the extraordinarily rainy April (28 days with no sunshine) meant the plankton blooms were not rich and deep, so the whales had to search far afield for food. Made sense, one woman we met said her husband was just now putting his potatoes in the ground as it was finally dry enough.

Special thanks to Pat and John from Connecticut who kind of adopted Barbara and myself after she commented on their UNC sweatshirts. This wa s their 31st year making a whale watch on Stellwagen; the come to Sandwich every year the week before Memorial Day to mini-vacation and whale watch. Kind and considerate folks.

We passed the Sandy Neck Colony and the sandy Neck Lighthouse on our way to and from Barnstable Harbor.

The excursion took more than 4 hours and, even though the whale sighting was the least possible, I had a wonderful time on the ocean. When the bow spray hit and I tasted the essence of the North Atlantic, I grinned like an idiot. Chilled but not really cold, I relished the thump of the keel as it hit the rolling sea and laughed. I am a sea water baby.

We dined on seafood again - Barbara on broiled scallops the size of golf balls and me on superb swordfish!

Cranberry bogs are everywhere. Just sitting there waiting for the growing season to begin in earnest.

One thing I did realize today - I miss lilacs. The scent of them in the air took me right back to 39 Summer Street and playing in that lush lilac grove just west of the garage...our childhood Sherwood!