A Trip To See The Doctor

A few years ago, my wife and I were getting ready to leave for a trip of a lifetime. A trip that I was really excited about. We were flying up to Calgary Canada and getting on a train to spend the next few days traveling west to Vancouver. Train moved along during the daytime, stopping at night, allowing us to sleep in nice hotel rooms. Once we got to Vancouver, we spent a day or so there then boarded a cruise ship for a trip up to Alaska, to see the amazing sights and then back again, where we … Continue reading A Trip To See The Doctor

One Of The Strangest Things

For all the stories I’ve told on here and circumstances I grew up with, I don’t think my Mother or any of my Grandmother’s ever heard me say a curse word prior to me being grown. This was not because we grew up in a highly religious home. My mother was a spiritual person but she didn’t attend church regularly. I attended church with my Grandmother Leona, but I didn’t exactly fall in line there. It was a different time we lived in. We actually knew how to turn course language on and off. I guess it was more out … Continue reading One Of The Strangest Things

When I Was Young, Everyone Looked Really Old

Old Man Cardwell When we were young, preteen years for me, we went all over Smithwick horseback. Mostly it was Kenny, Jimmy Palmer, Glenn Lewis and me, but sometimes others in the community joined in. Everett and Maude Jackson had the little store beside the road just below the cemetery, towards the church house. The store had really limited fare. Mostly snacks and soda pops. I don’t remember them having any perishables. Maybe some soda crackers and Vienna sausages and cans of potted meat. Across the highway from the store and down the creek a little ways was a little … Continue reading When I Was Young, Everyone Looked Really Old

A Horse In The Highway

I was driving my first car, a 1963 Ford Galaxy. Prior to buying that car I had driven whatever vehicle was setting around. In those days there were several to choose from. It looked like a used car lot in front of our house. The year was 1967. I was almost 15. After closing down the Texaco, my first job outside of working for my dad, I drove up and down the street until it appeared everyone had headed home, so I started out for the 9 mile trip to Smithwick. The time was early to be going home, I … Continue reading A Horse In The Highway

More On Being Granddad

January 21, 2023 This is a post from a few years ago when I try my best to describe what being Grandad (after 30 years I’m still conflicted about whether it is Grandad or Granddad) is really like. It’s still the best job I’ve ever had. Thursday night I was in Bryan, Texas watching Will play basketball, spent the night in the motorhome and drove to Waco yesterday where I met up with Madeline for a nice dinner. We spent the night in a wonderful RV Park at Riesel, Texas and we will watch Will and the Flames play in … Continue reading More On Being Granddad

There Really Is No Better Job, Nor A Job As Rewarding As Being A Grandparent.

From November 17, 2018 The following story from last year caused me to swell with pride as I read what one granddaughter said during an interview. Last night I watched as Emma and her Lady Bulldog Teammates took on Georgetown and came out winners. Emma was the high scorer, with 24 points. I think we can look forward to an exciting season of basketball for Burnet. They really have some outstanding girls on that team. I also have grandson Will (Catfish) to watch as he does a season of 8th grade basketball. It would be hard to find anyone with … Continue reading There Really Is No Better Job, Nor A Job As Rewarding As Being A Grandparent.

My Mother

Bonnie Gay would have been 90 today. She grew up poor, in a very large family. She was the 8th out of 11 children. Her oldest sibling was born in 1916 and the youngest was born in 1937. Her father died when she 9 years old. She married at 15, had her first child at 17. She waited until she was 19 to have her 2nd child and that was me. She only lived in Smithwick and Jollyville her whole life. She was a friend to many and an enemy to no one or nothing. She was a deadly shot … Continue reading My Mother

Kenny And The White Bronco

I have to admit that in my younger years I spoiled myself with buying vehicles. I was doing a lot of driving, bidding on work all around the state. When I say a lot of driving, somewhere between 80,000 and 100,000 miles per year. I had a new Buick Rivera that I considered my road car. And it did handle the road very well. We had a project in Kendall County, just north of San Antonio building the Guadalupe River State Park, which was a undeveloped tract of ranch land when we started, so I couldn’t see driving that nice … Continue reading Kenny And The White Bronco