Sunshine Girl

Checking In

About six weeks into Chris' first semester at Tech, it seemed like a good time to check in with him and see how things were going. So last weekend my mom and I hopped in the car and made the drive out to Lubbock. 

Have I mentioned that it's a really, really, really long way from Houston to Lubbock? Really. It is. See what I mean? It's around 500 or so miles. 

Texas truly is the land of wide open spaces. You can't help but notice this, when you're driving in West Texas. There's a lot of room out there. It really makes a person stop and think, why are we all living cheek to jowl, in cities like Houston, Dallas, and Austin?? Now I'm not suggesting that we all move to Sweetwater, but there's something to be said about having a little breathing room.

Once you get out of southeast Texas, the scenery becomes pretty interesting and sometimes even dramatic. Given the terrain, I had the distinct feeling during the drive that mom and I were channeling Butch and Sundance; I kept looking in the rear view mirror, and muttering, "Who ARE those guys???" 

Lubbock, in my opinion, is something like an oasis in the middle of a cotton field desert. After leaving Sweetwater, you get to the last leg of the journey, which is Highway 84 North. You're just getting that feeling of, "Whew, we're almost there!!", when you see the sign that says, "Lubbock: 115 miles".  There's nothing that takes the wind out of your sails more than seeing that sign. But I digress. Lubbock is really not such a bad place. There is at least one shopping mall, lots of parks, and plenty of restaurants to choose from. And I recently learned that Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Johnny Cash appeared together on the same stage in the Lubbock High School gymnasium. How about that!

It was really good to see Chris again. He seemed to be happy and in good health. I was glad to see that he's made a lot of friends, and is getting along great with his roommate. He is definitely enjoying his classes and his freedom. He told me that he has NOT been to any parties yet where the couch has been set on fire. I chose to interpret this as a good thing. 

 

 

 

MINI Love

I went to the mall today and there it was, the one I've been dreaming about.

Do you think Glenn would believe me if I said it followed me home?

Those Were the Days - One for Patti and JoAnn

These pics from 1970-something go out to my newly found (the magic of Facebook) cousins from up north.

It's hard to believe that we all have children of our own now who are in college. 

I don't even want to venture a guess as to how old everyone was here. I will say that I'm pretty sure that I remember we went to Weeki Wachee just before these were taken, but I could be totally wrong. I seem to remember getting the doll there, the Spanish dancer that's on the floor in front of me. 

I love the smiles on our faces. This is one of those time travel moments that I would love to have back again, just for a little while. Where would you go, if you could? Just for an hour or two, just to take in the moments, not to wallow in the past, like Napoleon's Uncle Ricco. My list changes with time. 

On This Day in History...June 11, 2008

I like to look back every now and then and do a little bit of "on this day in history" reminiscing. Usually I do this when I'm not feeling particularly inspired to write about anything more profound. Today is one of those days, hence, I give to you June 11, 2008. 

We were on the tail end of our two week vacation in Scotland, and looking back, this day was one of the best days of the trip. Not only did I get to see Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Glenfinnan Monument, but as fate would have it, I also got to see the "Hogwart's Express" steam train trundle over the Glenfinnan Viaduct. 

It was a red letter day. You can read more about it here. Hard to believe that was 3 years ago. 

Notes

40 Years of Magic

So. At the Orlando airport today, I popped into the Disney Store to bolster my spirits before facing the security line. As I walked in, awkwardly dragging my suitcase and my carry-on behind me, I ducked to avoid a fellow airport sojourner, and whacked my head on a display. Looking up,a line of products caught my eye that had a giant "40" and "1971" on them. Upon closer inspection, I discovered that they were celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom.

What? 40? FORTY?

I gave myself a mental slap on the forehead for not making the connection, and then stood there in front of the display, thinking back, to a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

I was there on opening weekend, lo those many years ago. (That's me, clutching the balloon.) The memories are getting a little hazy around the edges, but the excitement hasn't faded. I've carried that with me my entire live, and I have it still, in my mid-40's, and no, I'm not embarrassed to tell you that.

Growing up in central Florida, and having a grandfather who was sometimes as much of a kid as I was, it's not really surprising in retrospect, that we were there that weekend. I think that he loved it as much as we did. (A few years later, in 1975, when Space Mountain opened, I can clearly remember him laughing hysterically in the seat behind me, as I was busy concentrating on not losing my lunch, and basically being terrified out of my mind.)

We went there at least once a year. Call it what you will, hokey, commercial, syrupy, or juvenile; I'll disagree with you until I run out of breath. For me, it really is "the happiest place on Earth". I understand that not everyone feels that way, but I can't help but associate the happiest days of my childhood with Walt and his cast of characters.

(There I am again, me and my balloon. It didn't take much to make a kid happy back in the 70's...)

Walt knew how to tell a story. It was his God-given gift, that he shared with the rest of the world. I love that he used that gift to make people happy. He inspired us, motivated us, and sometimes, he even had the ability to transform us. (Of course that doesn't mean that he couldn't scare us, too. As villains go, he came up with some great ones. Ask me about "Snow White's Adventure", in Fantasyland, some time.)

I haven't really pondered Walt in a long time. But being hit on the head with him today gave me a fresh appreciation for the guy and his talents. Walt, wherever you are, I tip my mouse ears to you. Happy 40th.

Crack Went His Leg, Like the Shell of an Egg...

Being a parent can be hard. Really hard. Those of us who have kids know that - we KNOW that, but sometimes this truth hits home harder than at others. Take today, for instance. Here I sit, in a hotel room 1000 miles away from home, while my son is at home back in Texas, with an immobilized, broken leg, facing surgery.

All without his mama.

Make no mistake, I don't think that he's really put out by the fact that I'm not there (as a matter of fact I'm pretty sure he hasn't given it a second thought), but *I feel pretty crummy about it. He's with his dad, so I know he's being cared for, but my maternal instincts are kicking into overdrive right now, and I'm feeling like a lout for not being there. I'm expecting the letter from the CPS any day now.

I do realize that these thoughts are irrational, but I defy any mothers among you to disagree with my frame of mind. We've all heard that definition of becoming a parent, "having a piece of your heart walk around outside your body".

My heart hurts today.

Glad I'll be home tomorrow.

Springtime in Texas

I've been reading a lot of blogs lately written by friends up north, and I'm hearing a lot of complaints about how spring is late in coming this year, north of the Mason Dixon. I hate to rub it in, but other than a general lack of rain - well, okay, it's a pretty severe drought - we're doing pretty good down here in Texas. As a matter of fact, I just couldn't resist grabbing my camera tonight and taking some pics of the backyard. After a lot of hard work by Glenn and I over the last couple of months, it's quite a pleasure to be out there right now.

If you're reading this and you live in Texas, you'll know that this euphoria is going to be short lived. In about 7 days it's going to be in the 90's here, and then the heat won't let up until late October. So we enjoy Spring while we can, during her fleeting visits.

For now we've got some intense color going on out there:

Overall, it's a pretty soothing place to be, especially at dusk, with a glass of wine and a good book. 

And let's not forget a good dog.

Senior Pics

Every now and then, I take a picture that I really like. This was one of them.

Graduation Countdown...

Shockingly, it's May already, which means...we're getting pretty close to graduation. After that, I know that summer is going to rocket by, and before you know it we'll be looking at August, and Chris will be leaving home. Whoosh, there go 18 years. Let's take a look...(don't cry, don't cry, Don't. Cry.)