San Antonio, Texas

It's been a few days since we were in San Antonio and even longer since we had a decent internet to work with. Texas is very big, but there doesn't seem to be a lot to it. A lot of wide open spaces. I don't think they believe in global warming as none of the campgrounds have recycling bins.

San Antonio, however is an oasis in the midst of all this openness. We spent 2 1/2 days there with no presidents to visit and managed to keep busy.

San Antonio is famous for its river walk  through the middle of downtown and for the Alamo, site of the famous battle that symbolizes Texas fight for independence from Mexico

Inside Mission San Jose

The Alamo is actually one of a string of missions built in the 1700's by the Spanish first as a means to convert the indigenous peoples to Christianity and second as a means of protecting travelers on the Western frontier. Hence it was first a church then a fort. The other four existing missions are still active parish churches. The missions are approximately 3 miles apart, the distance which was considered a one hour walk for a person. Mission San Jose in the center is the largest and best preserved. We were actually walking into the church for a visit when my brother phoned to give us some very positive news regarding his fight with melanoma. What a wonderful place to settle in for a few minutes to say a prayer of thanksgiving.

Alamo

The Alamo itself is an enigma. It is situated right in the middle of downtown making it hard to envision what went down there about 175 years ago when the legendary Davie Crocket and Jim Bowie met their demise in feats of absolute bravery. Within those crumbling walls lies an abridged  lesson in Texas history.

The river walk actually is about 15 miles long. It goes along the San Antonio River from the center of downtown where bikes are not allowed to the furthermost of the missions. Our campground was situated right on a trailhead which made it easily accessible to ride our bikes on it. We rode to the mission conception. It was a lovely stretch of the river away from the urban setting.

River walk trail

`

Along the River walk and Villita, the oldest buildings in town.

Mission San Juan

Mission San Jose

Revisiting Presidential Terms

So far this trip has been all about fulfilling one of Don's lifelong dreams: visit all the presidential libraries and/ or museums. In some cases, particularly those of our founding fathers, it means visiting their homes such as Mt. Vernon and Monticello. The reason I mention this is because he had his list down to 4 and here in Texas within a relatively small circle reside 3 of those. We covered both Bushes, LBJ, and the site of John Kennedy's assassination in Dallas.

Don looks very comfortable in George W.s oval office

It seems a very appropriate year to do this in the midst of a very interesting (?) election. Each of these men accomplished great things for our country during their terms in office. Even if you had less than admiration for any of them while they were in power, going through their libraries and studying the decisions they made and the laws they effected in context of the times in which they lived, anyone can find something of value to themselves.

Deep in conversation with George H.W. Bush

And whatever people thought of them as individuals one thing was certain, their hearts were in the right place doing what they thought was best to serve and protect the American people. Decisions, right or wrong, were made in the best interest of American as they saw it at the time and not in their own self interest or that of their respective parties.

I try very hard to keep my writings non-political, but please forgive me for my digression.

Sizing himself up with LBJ

It is very scary, the candidates we have to chose from on Nov. 8. Can we trust that our next president will be able to put aside the narcissism and bitterness engendered by their campaigns and do their best for the betterment of the American people. Only time will tell. All I can say for now is God bless and protect America from herself.

Site of JFK shooting as seen from Texas Book Depository window. The trees were much smaller in 1963

Taking Time to Worship Along the Road

The Grotto of Mother of Sorrows, Portland, Or.

This week-end we attended mass at St. Joseph Parish in Bryan, Tx. On the way out of church I opined that I wished I had kept a list of all the different churches we have been to in the 46+ years we have been travelling.
As a Catholic, it is easy to find a church and mass time that fits your needs. Sometimes it takes a bit of effort, fitting it into the agenda and sometimes, admittedly, we have not made the effort but those are times to regret.

Making time for mass reminds us to be thankful for the opportunities we have been given to explore our God-given world as well as making some very special memories. It is like bringing Jesus along on the trip and could there be any better company than that.

In Dublin, Ireland we attended a local church to hear a sermon making women responsible for getting their husbands to church. We have attended masses in a local parish in Italy, the Vatican and at Notre Dame in Paris. We stumbled into a French language mass in Windsor Canada and a Latin mass in Wausau, Wi. only to realize how universal the language of the Eucharist is.

In Michigan, we drove 50 miles with our kids only to find out we were given the wrong time for the mass and we were locked out of the church for being late.

El Cristo Rey, Grand Canyon

Twice we were privileged to hear mass in the midst  of God's creation, the Grand Canyon.

We have attended services, both Catholic and non-denominational, at campgrounds sharing a common bond with fellow campers. Whenever we are in Atlanta, we attend the Methodist Church with our son's family.

Worshipping with people of different cultures is part of the adventure. A part that has given us a feeling of peace and many fond memories.

What is a BFF

This one's for you Dorothy

The kids have an expression bff which I believe means "best friend forever". Forever is a long time and even longer to someone who is just at the beginning of their life journey. True friends are rare in this life and I have been blessed with many. Can one have more than one bff or do you risk offending many by choosing one?

We have started off our current adventure by visiting friends whom we have known since the beginning of our life journey. People who were there at the beginning, are still a part of our lives, and probably will be to the end of our days.

I'll never forget the day I met Grace. My parents had just dropped me at the dorm, Wardall Hall on the Champaign campus of the U of I, and headed for home. I was sitting on the edge of my bed contemplating how to begin my college career when a rather diminutive mom walked in and said to me, "this is my daughter Grace and she doesn't have any friends. Will you be her friend?" Friendless as I felt at the moment how could I refuse.

I don't know to this day why Grace loves me  but I do know why I love her and have tried to hold her close to this day. First I fell in love with her quirkiness and quick wit. Even when telling the most tragic story she can find a bit of humor in any situation. As I got to know her better it was her heart that held me close. A goodness that is hard to find anywhere else. It is as simple as that. One person in your life who accepts what you are warts and all and embraces it.  The one person you can trust with your most private thoughts with the confidence that you will never be judged.

As Grace put it recently, we shouldn't even be friends. We were constant companions during our first year of  college after which I had to transfer to another school. We talked on the phone infrequently over the next three years. She was in my wedding and godmother to my youngest son. As our families grew and we became busy mothers we saw each other less frequently until she moved to St. Louis and we went years during which our contact consisted solely of birthday and Christmas letters. Now our children are grown and although we still talk to each other infrequently and visit less frequently, each encounter just seems to continue where we left off as though no time has passed at all.

Hardly a day has gone by over the 45 years we have known each other that I do not have a thought of her and no matter how long it has been since our last contact, I know that if I ever need her she will be there  for me in a flash. That's why we took a selfie this week and posted it on facebook with the simple caption "bffs"

While visiting Grace, we stayed around the corner from the historic district of St. Charles, Mo. A quaint town with great food and the usual assortment of chotsky shops.

Dinner at Mother-In-Laws House

St. Charlles historic center.

Dining al fresco in October