TEXAS TRIP Review

 

  

 After a couple of weeks after my return home, I have finally managed to post a few photos of the trip.  I had a little lapse of energy after my return...mostly trying to talk myself into actually doing something (what little sleep will do to you!) And, as sometimes happens,  I was just in a little blue period, but, I'm back to normal (whatever that is) and planning on seeing my son and sister here in a week or so.  I wasn't really trying to avoid posting, just couldn't work up the enthusiasm for it.  Did you ever want to do something and you just couldn't make yourself do it?  So, nothing against you...I hope you understand.  Honestly, I think it's this time of year...the holidays are rarely the happiest days of my year and this year especially....

Well, I'm rambling on when I need to show these photos...so here they are!

As you can see....the first photo is of my daughter, Kelly and me.  She took it upon herself to drive me to my home town in McGregor, Texas.  It's a seven and a half hour drive which I could never do my myself..mainly because I can't see to do it, and then wouldn't have the guts to do it myself if I could see to do it.  So, I'm waving to you here as we were leaving my driveway and heading out - she took this photo.  (She is such a sweetie!!)

 

 Here are the people we were going to see.  On the left is my brother, Mike, he is sixteen months younger than I.   Then, there is me, I'm the oldest.  This little get-together was for my 70th birthday and my youngest brother, Robert's birthday.  He's thirteen years younger than I.  I was born on October 18, 1944 and he was born on October 15, 1958.  Then, there is my only and favorite sister, Debbie.  She is ten years younger than I.  We stayed at her house....she's a sweetie too! Well, so now I am the oldest in our whole family!  We had a really good time!  It turns out I had thought I hadn't visited in four years, but it was SIX.  I couldn't believe it, but the old navy man had been sick for so long and travel wasn't happening...and, time does fly...so six years wasn't too far fetched when I think about it.  They made me laugh...which was a really good thing!

 

 And, here is where we were going...McGregor, Texas.  My home town and where the three of them were born.  I was born at Camp Polk, Louisiana, as my Dad was still in the service when I came along....and I was first!  I consider McGregor my home town though, as I did live there from age ten on and my mother was born there.  My father was born in 1909 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   They met when he was stationed at Ft. Hood back in the early forties.  My dad was in the Army for twenty-eight years.   McGregor is on the Texas prairie...it was established in 1882 and is located sixteen miles SW of Waco, Texas, population 4,934.  It's a cute little town...best known now for being the site of SpaceX.

  

 As you can see from these photos, it has hardly changed over the years...this is Main Street, and while it does have more than one traffic light, there still aren't many.  It is also known for having an Amtrak station, the nearest one to Waco....and it has another name...."Jewel of the Prairie."

 I sure think it's appropriate.

 

More of Main Street.  A couple of small changes...mostly cosmetic to this street...but actually, it looks pretty similar to it did when I was a small child...and we know how long ago that was!  That store with the green front, second from left...used to be where Winn's 5 & 10 was located. Where I bought all my embroidery floss and fabric with my babysitting money when I was in my teens.  It's had other names throughout the years, but I still "see" it that way and can still feel the excitement when I got to go 'shopping.'

 

 An old movie theater, drug stores, and such were on this side of the street...those have moved on also, but it still has echoes of those old days.

 

In the mid-nineties, (1996?) I believe, an art student took a new photo and an old photo of McGregor and merged them together...creating this photo I just love.  And, really, it's not hard for me to imagine the 'feel' of the town in this exact way.

 

This is where my sister and brothers decided we should celebrate these two birthdays.  Just outside of town...sits a place we call the "Mansion."  It's probably one of the more unusual, and oldest places around there.  An 8500 square foot mansion, filled to the rafters with vintage memorabilia, clothing, artwork, antique furniture and such.  It now hosts many parties, charity events, weddings, and such.  They had it decorated to the nines with everything Halloween.  We had a luncheon there.  DELICIOUS food!  And, you could wander around and look at every little thing.   And, yes, we were celebrating these two birthdays at a later date....but who cared?

 

 This is one of the rooms in the house...there are several rooms to seat people for dining..I was there once before where we sat in the smaller dining room at a round table that sat eight or ten....that was quite an experience too.   And, oh, what wonderful antiques to see and enjoy!  I LOVE the kitchen too!

All in all, it was a wonderful visit with my siblings.  My daughter really enjoyed spending time with them and I am so glad.  I tried to get a lot of photos...but doing so in a hurry resulted with blurry photos....so I must apologize to the family for that.  I won't forget it and it was a happy day, so that is what matters the most.  A lovely day in a lovely place...with lots of additional chatting when we went back to Debbie's house.  Walking down memory lane...remembering some things good, some not so, but ending up with lots of laughing.  Couldn't have been better!  So, thanks my favorite sister and you two favorite brothers....thanks for everything!!! 

And, thank you, Kelly, for putting up with me all the way there and all the way back!!!  You are my favorite daughter!!!  And, thanks, McGregor, for being such a cute and hospitable Texas town!  (As an aside...great food at Luigi's...new since I was there and with delicious food and very nice people, who, by the way...did not have a Texas accent, but I understood anyway!  Thank you, too.)

Here I am with the most wonderful glass of  Iced Almond Tea, served before and during luncheon at the Mansion.  I could have (and nearly did) have a whole carafe of it all by myself...delicious!  It was a wonderful trip and a Happy Birthday!

 Y'all take care out there...stay warm and be safe.  Until next time, ♥  pat