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Esther,
You're right, I'm deep in the heart of Texas. The trip by air
was very comfortable from Seattle to Houston, where I changed
planes to go on to Corpus Christi. That, too, was a good flight
(small jet; every seat gives you both an aisle and a window).
Now, here's what upset me, although it all worked out to my advantage:
Sitting near the boarding gate in Houston, I decided I should
call my dotter-in-law, Brandi, to let her know I wasn't
far away. I opened my purse to take out my cell phone and discovered--it
was GONE! I couldn't believe my eyes or fingers.
Apparently I was mumbling to myself, because a tall, good looking
Texan said, "May-am,
R-uh youuuu havin' a problim?"
(Honestly, that's a Texas drawl as I now
hear it). Bless his boots and big heart, when I told him my "problim,"
he whipped out his (Now, now. I know what you expect to
read!) cell phone and said, "Now,
darlin', you just tell me your cell numbah, an' we'll see whut
happens." It went straight to voice
mail, which tells me someone else does have it.
This a.m. a nice lady at the motel's front desk gave me very
good directions to the nearest Sprint store. Well, bless their
boots and hearts too, when I reported the loss and circumstances,
a nice young man told me he'd have to give me a free replacement
phone.
"May-am, all ah have
raht now-uh is a picture phone. Is that aw right?"
All right? Sweetie, it's fabulous! There
was another thing I discovered last night when I got to my motel
room and looked inside my carry-on bag: I forgot to put in my
camera. Now I not only have a fancy, new cell phone, but it's
a camera, too. Plus instead of the 120 free any-time, anywhere
minutes each month, I've got 400 minutes of the same thing. I
do love Texas and all these nice, helpful, friendly people! I
like the boots, too.
Tomorrow Brandi, Ian (my clone of a red haired grandson) and
I are off to San Antone (nobody but a tourist calls it by the
right name, San Antonio) to scare the socks off the natives and
otherwise at the Six Flags Over Texas Park. Looook out, boys,
we's a'headin' yer way!
This afternoon we went souvenir and birthday shopping. Brandi's
birthday is tomorrow. At this one big store they had some great
iron-on-while-you-wait logos for T-shirts, and we even got to
choose the T-shirts. Brandi chose a pretty one (she's young).
You know me, I chose an outlandish one that has three seagulls
in bikinis, holding full drinks, wearing sunglasses, while saying,
"We're Sea Gals,
Corpus Christi, TX."
I saw some appropriately obscene 'Ts' at one of the airport gift
shops that I'll probably buy on my way home. I'm entitled; I've
reached the SOB stage of life. You know, I'm a sexy old broad.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Yes, I'm having a good time. I'll go right on having fun, too.
I do love to travel, but it's always so nice to get back home.
And, as usual, when I walk in the back door and call out to Lily,
she'll come galloping to me singing her loud meow of woe:
"How could you leave
me? I am on the brink of starvation! Nobody fed me! I never saw
a drop of water! I suffered such loneliness! What? I don't know.
You know I never open those cabinet doors. Telephone got knocked
off the table? How can you say that? You don't love me...Well,
you don't love me enough. I knew it, I knew it! (Sniff) Well!
If you want to pet me or hold me in your lap again, you must
BEG me. Oh, I'm in your lap now? Well, since you're almost simpering
enough...all right...go ahead, keep petting me. I'll tell you
when you can stop."
Texas, as I said, I love you! But, in a couple more weeks Ah
am-a goin' back home. (Carry me back to old Seattle.) Relax,
I promise not to sing it.
Speaking of music, today while driving my brand new, air conditioned,
big rental car (small cars don't go over well here) I found a
great country western FM radio station. They play the road house
type of music I've missed these last few years. It's great to
listen to that foot stompin,' knee thumpin,' tear jerkin,' laugh
'till you run out of breath, road house music and not even have
to buy the beer to enjoy it. Shades of Bob Wills, Marty Robbins,
Johnny Cash, June Carter, Mickey Gilley, Tex Ritter, Gene Autry,
Willie Nelson, Freddy Fender, Jerry Reid, Merle Haggard, Waylon
Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Dottie West, Patsy Cline, and all
of them who could sing their hearts out to me. How I wish I could
turn back the bar clock again!
I'll call you when I get back, I promise.
Love y'all,
Pay-at
(Can you hear my Texas accent now?) |
