Saturday, December 18, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Key West...Key Lime....
Key West was an awesome place.. we really fell in love with it. We would love to go back again and again. Riding around town on scooters. Eating great food. Beautiful beaches. Beautiful water. Great people. Just a different pace of life.
One of the things we did discover was what you can do with Key Limes..
We started seeing many many things Key Lime somewhere around day 2. We started making a list.. Then a friendly shop owner said if we really wanted to flesh out our list we needed to go to Kermit's
Let me tell you..some of this stuff is awesome.. the barbecue sauce and the cilantro chip sauce is fabulous. Key Lime Margaritas...not so much. A tad too tart. The wine on the other hand even had us non wine drinkers singing its praises.
Well enough with the details... here is the list of everything we found Key Lime on Key West.
In no particular order... Key Lime:
Ice Crush
Coconut patties
Bark (as in candy coating)
Pie on a stick
Taffy
Ice cream
Cookies
Fudge
Juice
Coffee
Aide
Tea
Pie cookies
Coolers
Margarita Mix
Pretzels
Mousse
Shortbread cookies
Mojito
Cheesecake
Strawberry iced tea
Tea cookies
Candy canes
White chocolate cookies
Mango poppy dressing
Barbecue sauce
Honey
Hot sauce
Mango chutney
Wine
Datil pepper
Powder
Strawberry jalapeno jelly
Bath jell
Shampoo
Conditioner
Candles
Fruit Squares
Cocktail dipping sauce
Guacamole dip
Florida bay spice
Soap
Citrus salsa
Jelly Beans
Soda
Cinnabun
Smoothie
I don't proclaim that this list is all inclusive.. if you have had some other Key Lime "something" let me know and post it here...
Oh yes.. as like the pic says..
Key Lime Time
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Miami for a day… + some
We did a quick run in to Coconut Grove Saturday night… pretty cool place. Walked around a bit but was an interesting evening… Burn Notice has a warehouse there where they do all their stage shooting. They also do most of their “on location” shooting in the Coconut Grove area.
Then Sunday we went to Miami Beach.. we walked and walked and walked.. Some fun observations, experiences and encounters during the day.
The beach is amazing!!!
Met a really great lady that was the bartender at the poolside bar and The Clevelander hotel. She has two beautiful daughters and she’s afraid of going in to the remote areas of Florida where there are not many lights. She has the same feelings that many people from my part of Texas have when they go in to a big city. I had 2 margaritas there… it was actually before noon….
Then had a cigar a little later while walking down Ocean dr.
Later as Hannah and I are standing outside the Ghirardelli's. chocolate store contemplating a hot fudge Sunday.. Donna walks up and says “what sin have you found now?” My favorite quote of the day from family.
Later on at the beach near the Key Biscayne lighthouse, a local asks Donna “Do you speak English or do you speak Spanish?” Just never thought Donna looked like a Spanish speaking person.
Coolest observation of the day: Donna says “You know, I’ve noticed something about the groups around here”. I said “There are no lines… not like the ones we normally think of .. color..”
We were also the minority as English speaking people in Miami beach.
We have also designated Miami as “Smokers Paradise”. Dang there are so many people that smoke there. I guess it’s all the Europeans. I’m not hating… since I had my cigar there..but still. Lots of cigarette smokers. Lots of scooters too.
About 10 percent of the people I saw in Miami look like models.
The lady at Key Biscayne was very nice too. She was very sociable .. asked Donna to take pics of her and her son. We had her take pics of us too.
Most everyone we ran across was very friendly and nice. Now Donna had us marching all over Miami beach..the a little driving to Key Biscayne..then walked all over Miami beach again to get pics of the art deco hotels with their neon on at night…put blisters on my left foot. Wore us out. Felt like boot camp. It was about 15 kilometers.. Donna and Hannah named our day the Donna Anderson’s Miami Beach, 15K pro am fun run race for the cure (a la The Office). Still recovering..
We’ll have more observations from Key West..mainly how may different ways you can eat Key Lime “whatever”..
Oh..yeah..
Forgot that the lady at Key Biscayne also asked Donna if we were from Northern Florida..because we sounded like her in-laws.
also...
A guy in an al fresco restaurant ..the cafe at Books and Books..had a dog that was slobbering all over Austin.... He was too timid to say anything to them so Donna asked if they could pull their dog back..in a very nice way. One of the guys asked us where in the south were we from..he then pointed at his SMU business school cap (with his Princeton t-shirt on too). We tried to bond a little by pointing out that our daughter was going to TCU but he would have none of it...
Friday, July 2, 2010
My New Playlist
I used to buy some greatest hits LP's of artists I really didn't plan to get "that" in to but if I like an artist I like to listen to an album in context.. I see it as greater vision of the artist in how they present their music.
Because of that I usually make playlists in itunes that are simply albums. Complete CD's of music by an artist. I make some other playlists but they are usually regarding something I'm working on...new songs for worship for church... sets for an upcoming camp gig..something like that.
A few days ago I made my first itunes playlist..for my own personal enjoyment. I know..most of you are like... What? It's true. but it's a big one..it pretty much fills up my little..old...ipod nano. But it's for listening to while I ride my bike. I find the selection soothing as I work to push through challenges out on the road. I thought I might share it with you and see what you thought. So far I really like it. I guess that's a good thing...but I think it's accomplishing what I want it to when I go out on rides... it's reducing my frustration as I work to do frustrating things that challenge me to work harder...
Anyway..take a look if you want. tell me what you think if you want.
Anywhere You Go 3:53 Ross King Perhaps I've Said Too Much
The State 4:30 Derek Webb Stockholm Syndrome
First Look 4:02 Jimmy Buffett Floridays
I Need Thee Every Hour 3:47 Jars Of Clay Redemption Songs
Our God 5:28 Chris Tomlin Passion: Awakening
Asleep In The Desert 3:31 ZZ Top Six Pack
Rhumba Man 4:10 Jimmy Buffett Buffet Hotel
O God Where Are You Now (In Pickerel Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?) 5:02 David Crowder Band A Collision or (3+4=7)
Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On 3:17 Jimmy Buffett Take The Weather With You
My Enemies Are Men Like Me 5:20 Derek Webb Mockingbird
Sing Like Mary Sang 7:18 Ryan Delmore The Spirit, The Water, And The Blood
Love In The Library 4:40 Jimmy Buffett Fruitcakes
Please Be My Strength 3:33 Gungor Beautiful Things
Saturday In The Park 3:56 Chicago Greatest Hits Vol 1
Track 07 3:13 James Evan Songs You Can't Dance To
Rain Down 5:46 David Crowder Band All I Can Say
My Hope 4:16 David Crowder Band Can You Hear Us?
Stay 5:26 Robbie Seay Band Give Yourself Away
Woman In Texas 4:41 Jerry Jeff Walker Live At Gruene Hall
Wait For Your Rain/Grace Like Rain 15:07 Todd Agnew Grace Like Rain
Tryin' To Reason With Hurricane Season 4:22 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Can't Help Myself 6:15 Sandra McCracken In Feast Or Fallow
Open Skies 3:59 David Crowder Band Illuminate
All Creatures 5:16 David Crowder Band Illuminate
More Than That 3:26 Monk & Neagle The Twenty-First Time [Promo]
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For 4:38 U2 The Joshua Tree
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is 3:22 Chicago Greatest Hits
You Have Me 4:36 Gungor Beautiful Things
Feelin' Stronger Every Day 4:17 Chicago
Rich Young Ruler 3:57 Derek Webb Mockingbird
Samson 3:55 Regina Spector
The Spirit vs. The Kick Drum 3:08 Derek Webb Stockholm Syndrome
Lovely Cruise 3:54 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
passenger seat 3:44 Death cab for cutie
Mockingbird 4:15 Derek Webb Mockingbird
No Not One 3:58 Brandon Heath What If We
Navajo Rug 3:02 Jerry Jeff Walker Navajo Rug
Teach Me All Your Ways 5:43 Ryan Delmore The Spirit, The Water, And The Blood
Incommunicado 3:41 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Shine Your Light On Us 6:23 Robbie Seay Band Give Yourself Away
Viva La Vida 4:01 Coldplay Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Nasty Dogs And Funky Kings 2:50 ZZ Top Six Pack
A Pirate Looks At Forty 3:53 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Shadows [Acoustic] 3:20 David Crowder Band The Acoustic Songs
California Promises 3:40 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Call On Me 4:03 Chicago Greatest Hits Vol 1
Wishing You Were Here 4:37 Chicago Greatest Hits Vol 1
You Do All Things Well 4:44 Chris Tomlin Arriving [Enhanced]
Tin Cup Chalice 3:38 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Ocean 3:59 Ten Shekel Shirt Much
When The Coast Is Clear 2:58 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Mexico 4:07 Jimmy Buffett Barometer Soup
Pre-You 5:17 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
He Went To Paris 3:30 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Where The Streets Have No Name 5:37 U2 The Joshua Tree (Remastered)
Glorify 4:28 Todd Wright All The Freed
Beautiful Things 5:10 Gungor Beautiful Things
With Every Breath 5:03 Leigh Nash & Dan Haseltine City On A Hill
True Religion 5:47 Ryan Delmore The Spirit, The Water, And The Blood
No Plane On Sunday 4:18 Jimmy Buffett Floridays
You Were So Close To Me 3:29 American Blues The Roots Of ZZ Top
All Around Me 4:37 David Crowder Band Church Music
Stars Fell On Alabama 4:15 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Volcano 3:39 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Boy With A Coin 4:06 Iron & Wine The Shepherd's Dog
Master Of Sparks 3:31 ZZ Top Six Pack
Never Let Go David Crowder Band
Deliver Me 4:42 David Crowder Band Illuminate
Rodeo Wind 4:49 Jerry Jeff Walker Live At Gruene Hall
We Learned To Be Cool From You 5:55 Jimmy Buffett Buffet Hotel
Hot, Blue And Righteous 3:18 ZZ Top Six Pack
Creola 7:03 Jimmy Buffett Floridays
Speechless 5:07 Steven Curtis Chapman Speechless
Love Song 3:54 Third Day Third Day
O Come And Mourn With Me Awhile 4:05 Jars Of Clay Redemption Songs
Sing Alleluia 3:42 Jennifer Knapp & Mac Powell City On A Hill: Sing Allelluia
Eastern Hymn 6:26 David Crowder Band Church Music
I Heard I Was In Town 3:38 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Oh Happiness [Acoustic] 2:35 David Crowder Band The Acoustic Songs
A Beautiful Collision 3:57 David Crowder Band B Collision
On the Radio 3:26 Regina Spektor
One of these days 4:25 FFH
Power in His Blood 4:08 FFH
A New Law 4:46 Derek Webb Mockingbird
Track 02 2:46 James Evan Songs You Can't Dance To
Middle Of The Night 3:16 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
One Trick Pony 3:26 MercyMe Coming Up to Breathe
Obsession 6:00 David Crowder Band Can You Hear Us?
Six String Music 3:25 Jimmy Buffett Fruitcakes
Nautical Wheelers 3:36 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads [Disc 1]
Matthew's Begats 2:18 Andrew Peterson Behold The Lamb Of God
Sheik 4:05 ZZ Top Six Pack (Disc 2) [Tres Hombres & Fandango]
Resurrection Fern 4:50 Iron & Wine The Shepherd's Dog
You Gave Sight 4:43 Todd Wright All The Freed
Shepherd 3:37 Todd Agnew Grace Like Rain
By His Wounds 3:24 Littrell, Brian; Powell, Mac; Chapman, Steven Curtis; Hall, Mark Glory Revealed - The Word of God In Worship
Meet mwith me 3:40 Ten Shekel Shirt Much
Poured Out 4:01 Marie Barnett Poured OUT - Club Vineyard Vol. 68
Tasting Forgiveness 3:08 RSB Better Days
Surely We Can Change 5:18 David Crowder Band Remedy
Sacred 7:27 Ryan Delmore The Spirit, The Water, And The Blood
Meet Me In Memphis 4:52 Jimmy Buffett Floridays
Pictures of Success 6:56 Rilo Kiley
On A Slow Boat To China 3:59 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Rescue Is Coming (B Walk Down Stairs) 6:38 David Crowder Band A Collision or (3+4=7)
Death And All His Friends 6:19 Coldplay Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Unashamed Love 4:38 Ten Shekel Shirt Much
Little Miss Magic 4:02 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads [Disc 4]
Ballad Of Spider John 4:28 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads [Disc 4]
Nothin' But A Breeze 4:17 Jimmy Buffett Take The Weather With You
Running To Stand Still 4:17 U2 The Joshua Tree (Remastered)
All I Can Say 4:31 David Crowder Band All I Can Say
You Alone 5:37 David Crowder Band The Lime CD
Falling Down 5:02 Ryan Delmore The Spirit, The Water, And The Blood
With Or Without You 4:56 U2 The Joshua Tree (Remastered)
Only You 4:02 David Crowder Band Illuminate
Sea and The Rythm 5:36 Iron & Wine
Twelve Volt Man 3:58 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads [Disc 4]
Track 01 4:18 James Evan Songs You Can't Dance To
all who are thirsty 3:46 Vineyard UK Surrender
Yeah 3:36 Among Thorns Among Thorns
The Twenty-First Time 3:16 Monk & Neagle The Twenty-First Time
Hey there Delilah 3:53 Plain White T's
Son Of A Son Of A Sailer 3:25 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Smartest Person In The Room 4:39 Ross King Perhaps I've Said Too Much
When Salome Plays The Drum 3:29 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads [Disc 3]
They Don't Dance Like Carmen No More 2:54 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
Off To See The Lizard 4:14 Jimmy Buffett Off To See The Lizard
Awakening 4:52 Chris Tomlin Passion: Awakening
Everybody Want To Go To Heaven 4:56 David Crowder Band B Collision
Pagan Angel And A Borrowed Car 4:33 Iron & Wine The Shepherd's Dog
25 Or 6 To 4 4:53 Chicago Greatest Hits Vol 1
This is Our God 5:36 Chris Tomlin The Noise We Make
Mercy 4:57 Ryan Delmore The Spirit, The Water, And The Blood
The Nighted I Painted The Sky 5:32 Jimmy Buffett Barometer Soup
Come Thou Fount 4:32 David Crowder Band All I Can Say
Search And Know 3:37 Todd Wright All The Freed
Biloxi 5:39 Jimmy Buffett Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads [Disc 2]
Track 09 3:55 James Evan Songs You Can't Dance To
Little Bird 3:35 Jerry Jeff Walker Live At Gruene Hall
Wholly Yours 4:17 David Crowder Band B Collision
Stronger 4:26 Hillsong Live This Is Our God
False Echoes (Havana 1921) 15:55 Jimmy Buffett Banana Wind
Uncreated One 4:48 Chris Tomlin See The Morning
Take My Life 2:18 Third Day Third Day
New Day 4:07 Robbie Seay Band Give Yourself Away
Happy Ever After (Now And Then) 4:18 Jimmy Buffett Banana Wind
Barefoot Children 4:54 Jimmy Buffett Barometer Soup
Coldplay Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Take Me To The Cross 4:31 Sheri Carr Fearless Now
I know it's heavy Crowder and Buffett..and if you know me you're not surprised. But..Those artist are speaking to me the most right now. If you have other ideas..I'd love to hear them. Riding my bike..I'm having more time to listen to tunes..and Romack..I'll get some Clairmont on there my friend.
Peace.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
The evening bike ride
Well this evening I took off and did the same ride again. I got started around 7:40 p.m... and it was a joy. It brought back great memories of riding my bike up and down Ave V in Alta Loma Tx way back in the day with my friends David McMillian, John and Curtis Rosson. The breeze felt wonderful as I rode through the dusk... the cool of the night breaking though the warmth of the day.. it was like there were cool bubbles of air out there bursting over my body as I rode through the warm moist evening. It was a great ride.. feeling a little like a kid again, riding my old banana bike up and down that shell road in Alta Loma, Tx. What a blessing.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Before I'm 60
1. Key West and the southernmost incorporated place in the contiguous 48 states.
2. Alaska
3. Snowboard
4. Surf
5. Parachute
6. Bungee jump
7. Hike the Grand Canyon
8. Canada
9. Parasail
10.Learn to sail a boat
11.Get a sailboat
12.Get out of debt
13.Be able to wear my Aggie Ring again (without having it sized)
14.Lose 100 lbs and keep it off.
15.Learn to fly a plane
16.Work on a mission trip on foreign soil.
17.Yosemite National Park
18.Hawaii
19.Costa Rica Canopy Tour
20.Cycle the Pineywoods purgatory
21.Ride my bicycle from Lufkin to Austin (camping along the way at night)
22.Give Jinx a BoB ring
23.Perform a wedding
24.Snorkeling
25.Own a Mini Cooper
26.Get an iPad
27.Re-establish my daily discipline of scripture reading and prayer
28.See my friend Warren Bird again.
29.Find and visit with 5 old high school friends I haven't seen recently
30.Play golf again
31.Go to a baseball game at Wrigley Field
32.AmTrak to the west coast
33.Baseball game at Fenway
34.Drive a car through a giant redwood
35.Tell my wife I love her everyday
36.See my children complete their educations and become independent,functioning adults
37.See the fall foliage in New England
38.See Jerry Jeff Walker perform again
39.Dance at Gruene Hall at least once a year
40.See Gary P. Nunn perform again
41.Go overseas
42.Scuba dive
43.baseball game at Yankee stadium
44.Canoe the Guadalupe again
45.See Jimmy Buffett again...and again.
46.Publish a song
47.Record my (and my friends) songs and post them on fb or myspace
48.Write 30 more songs
49.Post music videos of some of my songs on youtube
50.Make my music room more soundproof for good recording
51.Every time I say goodbye to one of my family, tell them I love them
52.Do this with regularity.
53.Begin funding my 401K again
54.Visit the Shiner Brewery
55.Eat at the Angelina County airport
56.Visit Mike O
57.Memphis in May
58.Hike to the top of a mountain in Summit County Colorado with Shawn
60.Farallon Islands Whale tour...there ya go...60 before 60.
Monday, May 17, 2010
50
I'm 50.. but that's not what this is about.. A lot of my friends are turning 50 right now.. old school mates even newer friends..but still that's not what this is about..It is about 50 though..
Not 50 cents in pennies..
or 50 cents in quarters..
or fitty cent
I like the cross and the gun together.. I think it's very american..and
It's not about 50 dollars for that matter..
Now that's big!!50 lbs looks like this...
50 lbs of dog food....
Imagine 400 boxes of these goldfish... that's 50 lbs.. LOL!
Do you see where I'm going with this yet????
I have been down this road before but I'm hoping I can continue this long term because I enjoy the food and I really don't feel too denied. I still have little snacks now and then and I just try to choose wisely. But sometimes I don't and that's ok. In fact..spring break was a week when I didn't choose wiesly the whole time.. too many adult beverages and too many Chic-fil-a shakes..but still I'm at 50 lost now.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Favorite meal to eat at Cheddar's? Do you stick to one thing there or try to mix it up?
Donna and I both love the ribs. We share a rack and usually have leftovers but I think they are the best!!! I like the pot pie and the buffalo seasoned chicken strips as well as the lemon chicken. But you can pretty much bet 80% of the time..I'm eatin ribs.
Best road trip you've yet to take?
West... anywhere. I want to drive through the western states and take my time and stop at all the cool stuff..
What's worse: hearing fingernails screech down a chalkboard, hearing a baby cry uncontrolably, or hearing Todd Agnew sing a praise song?
A baby cry.. quit hatin on Todd Agnew!!
Is there ever left over food from your yummy looking Ex breakfasts? How would I score some of that tasty stuff?
Yes there is food left over from breakfast at times..you have to stop by before the evening crew kills it. Actually sometimes there is even enough to carry over to the next morning but I assure you there is hardly ever anything left after the next morning crew kills it...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Will you play come thou fount on sunday for me?
I will play it for God.. you will be allowed to enjoy it as well... as long as you go to bed an hour early and get up an hour early and make it to church on time..
While there may be water on Mars, I want to know if there is water in a Mars bar.
Until just recently the Mars bar had been discontiuned so if you had asked this question last year then I would have responded none as there were no Mars bars (unless they were very old and I would have to have a lab analysis done on each and every bar to determine the water loss that had occured over the last 8 years..the bars were discontinued in 2002). Mars bars were relaunched in 2010 so you are in luck! In my research of this question I have found that the Mars bar contains 4.5 grams of water per 100 grams of mars bar. So I will allow you to do the math, the metric conversions, taking in to account if you purchased a bag of fun size or if you got one of those big ol giant bars that weighs like a pound. So yes..there is water in a mars bar.. for more great info about a mars bar..especially if you are dieting..check this out! http://www.calorie-counter.net/candy-calories/mars-bar.htm
what is the capital of Turkey?
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks
ANKARA is the capital of Turkey..I just like that song..
If you could wear only underoos underwear, what characters would you wear?
I doubt they make the kind I would want to wear any more... but it would either be Aquaman or the Green Lantern. I'm sure they still have Superman so those would do if others were not available...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
The beard subculture
But you know I never really thought that much about beards until a friend of mine made a comment about another guys full beard.. "Man he's got a man's beard"..something like that.
Anyway..that kinda stuck in my mind.. did I grow this out because of that statement..Nope.. really thought I might be Santa and a church thing for a little while but then I just kept it..
I say all of that to get to this..
I'm walking through lowe's the other day and a young man that looks kinda like this.....
...says "Hey man..how's it going?".
He was an employee. He didn't ask me if I needed help. He didn't try to find out what I needed. It was a friendly greeting.. like I was some one he sees often..like we ran in the same circles..like we were a part of the same group or subculture. It was kinda cool. It was refreshing..then I started wondering if I was now a part of some beard subculture. Kinda like greyhound bus drivers that always wave at each other as they pass on the highways. OR.. maybe an even deeper subculture.
I then started thinking of an SNL skit I saw back in the...well..it was a long time ago. I then had to look it up. I laughed hard..I hadn't seen it in so long.. I doubt the beard subculture is as strong as the one depicted in this vid but it could be..
I'm gonna be much more selective of what my loan officers looks like at the bank.. facial hair will be a must!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Salvation, Restoration, Redemption and Santa Fe, Tx
Salvation as I stated before is a process. People may be immediately granted membership to the “Body of Christ” when they repent and believe. I also believe people will have eternity with their creator, but probably have not received salvation from all of the “issues” that block them from having a rich and full life. Christ said that he came so that “they may have life and have it to the full”. People will still struggle with issues once they become a Christian therefore I believe they must work through their salvation regarding those issues. Not that I think they are lost or their eternity is in question but true salvation is to be cut free of all those issues. Over time individuals can work through and with the love of community and guidance of the Holy Spirit can be freed of more and more issues over time.
I hope I haven't lost all of you starting you off this way but I have to share with you something very important...that's why I'm back here at my blog that I have pretty much abandoned since falling in love with fb and twitter.
We moved to Alta Loma when I was 5 years old...a part of the white flight of America when schools began desegregating. Can't desegregate a school district that's all white. (mind you I did not understand all of this until much later in life.. I was just living in a world my parents were creating around me)..
Now once we got to Alta Loma and I started in to the Santa Fe Schools...pretty much all I heard was how I was not given an even break because I was not a part of the "clique" or kin to the right people or whatever. Failed accomplishments by me were reasoned away by my dad because I wasn't part of the right group.
That stuff stuck with me. From not making the sale at the county fair to not making all stars in baseball to not getting an offensive lineman award were all laid at the feet of the fact that I just didn't belong in this community.
So...I had a negative feeling about the place I grew up. I felt like I had been shorted by people I grew up around. I just didn't know what to do with this feeling.. I enjoyed those folks I was around but in the back of my mind was this seed that had been planted about my town, my school and the people that were a part it all.
I then grew older and up and graduated and moved on. For many years I was really kind of happy to shake the dust of that town off my shoes and leave it behind. I did go back for a reunion in 88 and I was going through some transformations during that time that did not allow for that reunion to be that fun for me. Everyone was who they were but I had an arrogant feeling about myself and just didn't feel like I fit in.....still.
I heard about later reunions but easily passed on attending because I just didn't want to be a part of all of that. Sometimes it was for reasons of my new-found role as a Christian..
I don't know why I had this idea in my head that I had to give up certain things to be a Christian but it was what it was. I had a very fundamental ideal that I was striving for as I finally made the decision to be a follower of Jesus. I gave up drinking, cursing was dropped easily (and I still try to avoid it as I do not find it attractive as a representative of Christ in the world) and other things that were things that were important for me to do for me to truly believe I was making the sacrifice to follow my savior. Taking up my cross so to speak.
Hence the beginning statements from my paper. I had received salvation from my savior but I had not received salvation from myself. A friend I met years later taught me the redemption available in Christ. Finding God in all things. Loving God's creation. Loving all people...period.
Time went on and I began to find God in a good slice of pizza and a wonderful bottle of Shiner Bock. I had forgotten how great it was to sip gin and tonic....and with all these things many of my self imposed barriers to my home town and my school began to disappear.
I yearned for restoration to my people.. my people from my little community of Santa Fe Texas. Then came the gift of facebook. I began to find my peeps on there and what a joy it was. I was able to communicate with them and it was so great to be a part of their lives again. I watched in envy (forgive me Lord) as the class of 79 had their 30 year class reunion....wishing I could have been a part of mine..if there was one.
Then a long lost friend (won't say old..thanks Janet) throws a party and I get to go..
All I can say is my heart is full..nothing else explains how I feel.
Thank you Connie for your hospitality and your heart.
Thank you Cory for helping me in my redemption and restoration..
Thank you Donna for loving me for a long time through all my phases.
God Bless every one of you.. and those of you Fe'ers that were not there..I look forward to seeing you some day soon too.
Peace
