The Little Things That Happen In Our Lives……….

Every day events in our life happen that shape history. I sometimes play the “IF” game with myself. The most simple occurrence, the conversations we have, the chance encounters change the course of everything that will happen for the rest of our lives and will impact the lives of so many others. The most important chance encounter that changed my life happened by simply stopping at a beer joint one afternoon. The old 281 Club, that many of you remember, used to set on the side of highway between San Antonio and Marble Falls at Round Mountain . One day … Continue reading The Little Things That Happen In Our Lives……….

The Fire

Ruby Waggoner was my dad’s mother. She and my grandfather had divorced when Cecil was very young. He was raised by his dad, Theron and a host of aunts, uncles and his grandparents. Ruby Lee, Grannie Ruby or Grannie was a big part of our life going up. She lived in Austin and visited her often. She was one funny old gal that laughed a lot and made the rest of us laugh. Any time after I was grown and had projects around North Austin, I’d stop by even if for just a few minutes. One day she and I … Continue reading The Fire

Susan’s Signs and Bumper Stickers

Susan is a cousin of mine. She lived for a while down at the river by the Lewis Pavilion. Well actually more like right after you came in the gate. She had a small RV. Seemed pretty ideal for her and the park. That way some was there to help shew out trespassers and such. The is very patriotic and back in 2020 a while before the election she erected a nice Trump sign out front of her trailer or maybe tied a Trump banner on the picket fence. Here came Kenny down later to check on things. He pulled … Continue reading Susan’s Signs and Bumper Stickers

Some of Smithwick’s Finest

This is a post that Mona Gayle Waldrip posted in the very early days of the Angora Chronicles. Let me take a moment to say: “Mona Gayle you are so missed by so many people. Your pictures and your words meant so much to all of us.” I think the little boy out front in the middle was Kenny Jackson. Continue reading Some of Smithwick’s Finest

Gifts That Kept On Giving

When I was about 11 or 12 I started collecting cigarette coupons. Benson and Hedges coupons. You could trade them for prizes out of a catalog, just like trading stamps. There were two or three brands that fell under the B&H brand so they all had a little coupon attached to the package, beneath the cellophane cover. Extra rewards came when you bought a carton. Back in the 60s just about every adult that I was around smoked. Socks and Lois Jackson were still married at that time and I spent a lot of time over there with them. Lois … Continue reading Gifts That Kept On Giving

Shopping For Great Gifts

Back in 1973 my wife was looking for the perfect gift for me for Christmas. She always shopped early, instead of waiting until the last minute. Usually she had everything wrapped up by the week after Thanksgiving. She looked and looked, going to every shopping mall in Austin. She thought, “it isn’t easy buying for the man that has everything”. I was 21 years old with lots of money to throw around (Cough…Cough…Cough) so I had a habit of buying whatever I wanted, leaving nothing for her to buy me. I don’t remember exactly what I received that year for … Continue reading Shopping For Great Gifts

A Note From Maxine

RONNIE, I HOPE THAT YOU ARE MAKING A COPY OF EACH ONE OF THESE ARTICLES YOU ARE WRITING AND THAT COULD BE YOUR BOOK! YOUR LITTLE GRANDCHILDREN WILL NEVER READ THESE STORIES IF YOU DON’T. This was a note my Mother in Law sent me 10 years ago today, which was after just a few days of posting stories on the new Angora Chronicles. Now we turn the clock forward and Maxine lives here in Bertram with Madeline and me. I have done as she recommended and saved each and every story. While her memory isn’t as good as it … Continue reading A Note From Maxine

Cecil & Bonnie Gay Lewis

76 years ago today, my dad took my mother to be his wife. She was 15 years old. He was 23. Did she have any idea what was ahead for her? She passed away after 42 years of marriage, just short of turning 57 years of age. 4 years later he died at age 69. They spent their lifetime in Smithwick except for a little less than 9 years they lived at Jollyville, Texas – 1956 to 1965. They raised two knuckleheaded boys and then took on raising two adorable girls in what we call their second life of parenting. … Continue reading Cecil & Bonnie Gay Lewis