The old blogger needs a week off, and a chance to trod the soils of Texas. Tomorrow (Sunday), with Mary Freeman, we’ll fly from Atlanta to San Antonio, rent a car, and check into the Marriott Plaza for a few days of R&R. I seek inspiration for the sequel to Guns Across the Rio. Working title: The Last Texas Ranger. It’s about 60 percent completed. I hope to have it out before Christmas. I need to renew that Texas feeling, as Kandy and Ken Duke recently did.
San Antonio is the old home stompin’ ground for me, a place of wonder in my childhood. My family would stay in the Alamo Court on Broadway. I’d lie awake all night, listening to the traffic, too excited to sleep. Planning for the zoo in Brackenridge Park. I enlisted in the Navy in San Antonio, and left for Boot Camp (San Diego) in 1945, boarding the train at the old Southern Station, the one with the Indian on top.On occasion, Larry Cavazos and I chased across San Antonio, hurrying between bus stations, on trek to Lubbock and Texas Tech. More recently, I’ve had my family in San Antonio for Thanksgiving, a chance to visit family history.
This trip will be strictly for relaxing. I plan to have breakfast in the Menger Hotel. Visit the Alamo, once again. Walk through La Villita, maybe hear some music. Yes, do the Riverwalk, and Jim Cullum's Jazz club. I look forward to Texas specialties, such as chicken fried steak and the best enchiladas in the world. (Pralines for dessert; take some back to forward to Tometta). Bar-b-q at Joe Cotton’s in Robstown, with the best friends in the world. Cold Beer. Shrimp at the seawall in Corpus. And if time permits, Texas oysters at King’s Inn on Baffin Bay.
Let me hear about any topics you’d like to see displayed in the blog. I’m planning for a note on climate change during the past 65 million years. More on that when I get back to Georgia.
Dac
8/16/2008
I had the pleasure of visiting San Antonio with Dac a couple of years ago. I had only been to Texas once before, and never to San Antonio. The Mariott is a wonder hotel. It was a neat experience with all the free roaming peacocks. We were there in November. I think the weather was a little more comfortable then than it will be now. Stay cool Dac and watch out for the guacamole!
Posted by: Eric | August 18, 2008 at 09:30 AM
Shoot! Now I wish I had planned to go --- Say hello to the gang for me --- and tell Mary to take her walking shoes --- I know you! You always want to walk everywhere. I can close my eyes and hear that fabulous music at Cullom's --- Nothing like Texas, is there? tah
Posted by: tometta | August 17, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Dac, Have a grand trip to San Antonio--I regret I can't be with you to stir old memories. Remember, to us native Texans, San Antonio is our second home town. Larry
Posted by: Larry | August 17, 2008 at 12:15 PM