Lita's Lines: Winter Getaway --- A PEEK AT OUR PAST PRESIDENTS

As we zipped west out of San Antonio, I busily looked for a state park in the Johnson City area, so we could get up early for the LBJ Ranch (another highly recommended spot!). We found a lovely campground in Blanco, the cleanest state park bathrooms EVER!! And several other "finds" along the way!!

We found this delightful donut shop...it happened to be the 2 year anniversary of Mom's death, so I ordered a chocolate covered long john, which was her favorite. The young gal asked what type of filling and she "custom made" my order by adding the white creme ...the best EVER because she added so much creme that it felt like it weighed 3 pounds...Whipped creme and frosting make every dessert better!!!!!!!

The LBJ ranch was a great look into a president that I had considered a bit blustery and harsh. The Vietnam War exacted a toll on him, and the many other programs that he worked on became secondary in the minds of most Americans. As with most presidents, his re-charging came from the time spent at this Texas White House (HOME) in the Hill Country of Texas. He conducted cabinet meetings here, and added an airstrip....because he needed to be on THIS LAND in order to ponder, rest and make difficult decisions. I knew his huge contribution was initiating and signing the Civil Rights bill into law, but what I didn't realize was he also passed the Clean Air Act, Headstart, Indian Vocational training, Medicare & Medicaid and many others. He cared deeply about education reform, perhaps due to his schoolteacher mother's great influence on him.

This is still a working ranch, with Hereford cattle throughout the 1500 acres. This steer is a descendant of LBJ's original herd!! The Johnsons donated the ranch to the National Park Service in 1968, several years before he died. Because Lady Bird was fully involved in the preservation and beautification of America's National Parks, it seemed a fitting tribute from them to the country they loved.

I mostly loved seeing a different side-- a personal side to this crusty ole Texan and his soft-spoken, but strong, wife.

We then charged on to College Station, with a brief Sunday off at a not-so-great private park. College Station, the home of Texas A & M, houses the GEORGE H. W. BUSH presidential library.
Again, what a well-kept and impressive look at this gentle man and his feisty wife! Although their party loyalties were different, the Johnsons and Bushes had a lot in common: loving America, loving Texas, working extremely hard, giving back to their communities, down to earth.

Throughout the library, I was struck with the many profound quotes by both George and Barbara. He was known for his many letters to his wife, his kids and his grandkids...but she also loved to write. My strongest take-aways from this excursion: their 72 year love story, their affirmation of one another, their ability to laugh at themselves and at the weaknesses so often pointed out in the media (there is a comical video clip of conversations with Dana Carvey and others with George explaining why his characterization of him isn't correct), the many charities that Barbara worked on behind the scenes. I was struck by the vast differences in almost every way when compared to the current occupants in the White House. This was a great tour.