I have been to Texas five times in my life. But, because Texas is huge so I’ve really only seen parts. Everyone says go to Austin! Go to San Antonio. Nope, I’ve been to Padre Island (college spring break), Dallas twice (Work Conferences), Houston (visiting friends Clay and Amanda) and driving through the top bit. I’m sure there is a name for that part of Texas but I have no idea what it’s called.
My first adventure to Texas was driving from Minnesota to South Padre Island for Spring Break! College spring break - party time! I decided to go with my friends Noel and Vicki. They were both two years ahead of me at the University of Minnesota. We met at Territorial Hall my freshman year and we roomed together in a one room apartment between my freshman and sophomore years. I had no money and probably neither did Vicki or Noel so we decided that we would camp on the beach.
I grew up camping. I was not camping neophyte. So, we rented some equipment from the St. Paul Student Center and I think we drove down in Vicki’s little red car ready for fun and adventure - and lots of stories to tell. 1500+ miles in one day. That was the goal.
The first issue was that both Vicki and Noel wore contacts. And they both fried their eyes out driving with their contacts so I ended up having to do much of the driving. I remember at one point at night (because we didn’t have money to spend the night anywhere) and I saw a sign for what I remember was Flint Hills? Flint Mountains? My joke was that we only saw the Flint-stones. Ha ha.
Now, driving down to Texas when you finally reach Texas you think - Yeah! We made it. But then you realize to get to South Padre Island you need to drive all the way, north to south, through Texas. That is still another 10 hours of driving. GROAN…
So, we finally make it to South Padre and we are camping on the beach. There are a bunch of other people from our dorm also camping on the beach. Now, camping on the beach is VERY different from camping in Northern Minnesota. SAND. I have never had to deal with so much SAND, in EVERYTHING! I don’t have a lot of memories from that trip but I do remember SAND in everything. And I don’t think we were anyplace with a shower. I remember going out dancing at some club one night, playing never have I ever and having to move our tent back away from the shore due to high surf. Our guy friends who had a very large tent didn’t want to move it so they dug a trench in front of the tent. Seems like it was just as much work to dig that trench but they were so proud of their idea.
That was my first and only Spring Break trip. I never had the money to go on any other spring break adventures. But that was ok. I can say I partied on the beach in college - it’s a right of passage - right?
Dallas is one of the most boring towns to which I have traveled. But when you go there for work conferences you really don’t get to see too much. We did see the sad sights of where JFK was shot (Depository Building, Grassy Knoll) - good to put a visual to a story you have heard so many times. I was just shy of my first birthday when JFK was assassinated so no, I don’t have memories of where I was when he was shot. I can tell you where I was in 1986 when the Challenger exploded.
I do have one nice memory of Dallas. When I was there for the Young Audiences conference I got to go visit another YA friend who lived in one of the Dallas suburbs. I need to look her up. I really enjoyed knowing her but just like when you leave all your jobs, your work friends tend to fade into a place you dare not remember too much because they had become like family and it’s a bit painful to remember family you have lost.
Houston as SO SPREAD OUT. My memories of Houston were having to drive forever to get anywhere. I loved spending time with our friends and we saw a few sights the short time we were there. But I don’t think I could ever live there - too hot in the summer besides being so spread out.
My little drive across the northern tip was part of a trip of a lifetime. My sister Lynn was moving from Washington DC to Los Angeles CA. So, my brother Brent, my dad and I decided that we would road trip and help her move! I flew to Memphis where my dad lived (because this was back in the Northwest Airline days and you could still take a direct flight from Minneapolis to Memphis since it was a Hub airport for Northwest) and my brother Brent drove up from Florida and then the three of us drove to Washington DC where we met my sister Lynn and her belongings. After everything was packed we took off in my dad’s vehicle and Lynn drove her car Bessie. I love how she names her vehicles. I could never find the right name for any of mine.
I don’t remember too much about the drive out of the DC area. It really isn’t until about Oklahoma that I start having memories. We stopped at the Oklahoma City memorial to those who died in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. It was night. There are chairs for each individual who died, smaller ones for the children. So sad to think of how angry and hurt someone must be to do something like that. And even sadder that it continues to happen. Unfortunately, most of my photos were blurry because it was so dark and I have no idea how to use my camera. (Really, I should take some classes.)
I don’t remember if it was in Texas or Oklahoma where Bessie had some issues. Thankfully, Lynn was able to find a place to get her fixed. I have memories of restaurants and stopping at antique stores - because you can’t go on any type of trip with my dad (or me, or my brother Brent) without stopping at at least one Antique\Thrift\Second Hand Store\Mall. I remember it was the first time I think I saw one of those mega crosses along the highway. I was taking photos of all kinds of crazy things - we saw a truck, carrying a truck, carrying a truck! I loved too the crazy names and signs for different stores. We also drove by the Wigwam Motels - all the rooms are tepee shaped. I found out Lynn later stayed in them one night on her grand road trip she took one summer.
We eventually made it to LA and I got to see my sister-in-law and new niece Ella. Then my dad, Brent and I headed back to Memphis. We stopped at White Sands and Roswell in New Mexico. I didn’t see any aliens but we had fun sliding down the sand dunes. On the way to CA we were driving into sunsets. On the way back to Memphis we were driving into sunrises. I loved it all.
When you take a road trip like this you are reminded of how amazing our country is. For all it’s faults there are some wonderful places and people and we forget. I tend to always think of the negative when I’m in the moment, something I am really trying to change. However, when I look back on this trip I only remember the feeling of family, of the beauty of nature, of how vastly different our country is. From the openness and emptiness of the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest to the congestion and noise of Los Angeles. Mountains, desert, oceans, lakes, forests, plains. Metropolises, cities, towns and a gas station at a lonely crossroads. I hope we can get back to some common ground. Let’s start to focus more on what we have and what we want to preserve, what we dare not lose. Not just for me or for what is in my backyard. We need to save our spaces for those coming after us. Let's stop being afraid of the unknown, admit our mistakes and ask how they can be made whole. Embrace what is different and learn from that difference. Embrace life.