Winter Getaway -- MISSION TX

Authentic Mexican at "Danny's" along with some young singers!

Friends from Voyage Church, Terri & Dave Bruininks, invited us to stop on our travels to visit them in Mission, TX on the Rio Grande border of Southwestern Texas.  They spend their winter months here.  It was a perfect place to get another taste of this Texan-Mexican culture.  When Dave heard we were coming, he put on his Texas Welcome Hat and went to work locating a lot for us to stay on in their beautiful Green Gate Grove RV home resort.  He spent some time cleaning the "Texas Room" (a small building located in the back of the lot with extra living space, in our case a much appreciated bathroom!) as the previous owners had not been there for 2 years.

After church and lunch, we toured the area.  Especially interesting (upsetting) were the recent building sites housing the Border Wall materials, along with the MANY wooden platforms along the Rio Grande where Homeland Security patrols.  This area has lower crime rates than most other northern cities its size, and there is good harmony and dependency between the "Gringos" and Hispanics.  They feel frustrated that they have had no say in the border walls going up in their communities.  In fact, it will cut right through current RV parks and State lands. Wouldn't it be nice if our elected officials actually listened well to their constituents?



Our three days were spent reading, dipping in the pool, walking and riding our bikes to the near-by state park.  We so appreciated the great meals we enjoyed with the Bruininks--especially Tamales from Delia's, a new experience for us!  It was also a treat to enjoy the RV Park free of charge, because of Dave's negotiations!!



 
VERY delighted that Bill is able to ride his bike.  Thankful for his recent physical therapist!

Winter Getaway: Good Reads Along the Way

WE ARE THE WEATHER by Jonathan Safran Foer



This was our February Sizzlers choice which I was not excited to read...but leader Lynea pushed me into it!!  When I hesitate on reading non-fiction, it comes down to not wanting to be bored (I never have loved science) or not wanting to be convicted about yet another "issue".  The author surprised me!  I was ready for:  "compost", "drive less-exercise more", "recycle more efficiently", "3 minute showers".  I was not ready for "animal agriculture" as being the biggest contributor towards our dance with the death of our planet.

Yes, it was convicting, but so very enlightening. My conservative background taught me for years that climate change wasn't real- but it is hard to support that anymore, and if we take the Bible seriously--we are advised to care for/be responsible for  our surroundings. Foer weaves his story of the death of his Holocaust-survivor grandmother, alongside all of his musings and facts on how to do better in facing climate change.  I believe he gives this personal narrative to remind us of our legacies and what we hope for our children and grandchildren.  He also parallels his grandmother's strong conviction that Poland was falling to the Nazi's ..so she chose to "race away"; which he likened to our realization that Climate change will kill us if we don"t "race away" from it by facing it & taking measures to stop it.

I particularly liked his chapter, "Dispute With the Soul", which was his own back and forth dialogue about why he should embrace eliminating meat, cheese, and eggs..but arguing just as vehemently from the other side as to what others are saying.  It was so human.  When he admitted that every so often he "cheats" to buy a burger and is still struggling with eliminating the cheese and eggs; he had my sympathy because of his honesty.  I think that's what I appreciated most of all...this isn't a book on how to change in 4 easy steps; it's a call to awareness and hope.

"The real choice we all face is not what to buy, whether to fly or whether to have children but whether we are willing to commit to living ethically in a broken world, a world in which human beings are dependent for collective survival on a kind of ecological grace.  What does it mean to live ethically if not to make ethical choices? ....What is ecological grace if not the sum of daily, hourly decisions to take less than one's hands can hold, to eat other than what our stomachs most want, to create limits for ourselves so that we all might be able to share in what's left?"

Thumbs Up- an excellent, compelling read.


THE FLIGHT GIRLS by Noelle Salazar

 My sister-in-law, Pam, handed me this book with the comment "I kept thinking about your mom as I read  this story of these World War II women pilots."

My remarkable mother took flight from Michigan at age 19 to join the Navy Waves.  Why? Her father died, her fiance was drafted, her brother joined the Air Force, her horse died and then her home burned down.  As she journaled, "maybe I needed to find myself." This story re-acquainted me with my mom's story....young women who wanted to make a difference in the war effort, who made fast friendships that lasted over their lives, who mourned losses.

Audrey was born into wealth in a Texas home, but the glitter that it offered didn't appeal to her.  All she wanted to do was to fly and to eventually own an airport in her home town.  The US government offered women pilots jobs during World War II to train army pilots!! BUT, these women faced prejudices and injustices because the government never made it known until 1977.  Jimmy Carter signed a law that finally gave these women veteran status.

My mother thought that she did not contribute much to the war effort because she was stationed in FL logging pilot hours, not serving overseas.  Not until 2016 on an Honor Flight to Washington DC at age 92 did she realize the full extent of her accomplishments.... amazing numbers of women veterans and current service-women stopped to thank her and verified her invaluable contribution of "paving the way" for them!  She was touched and honored.

THE EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY WOMAN by Geri Scazzero

Uh-oh, another non-fiction read that made me think!  My daughter, Mikkel, handed this book to me after one of our conversations about getting "swallowed up" in ministry.  Don't get me wrong, God called me to ministry back in my Columbia Bible College days; but some days (and years) of our pastoral ministry were overwhelming!

Geri, a pastor's wife, "quit church" after the first 8 years and determined to make some changes in herself, in her marriage and in their parenting..before she was willing to join back in.  I identified with much of her analysis because I too was taught to "give everything", that saying "no" was unbiblical, that my husband's work sometimes had to take priority over our family, that selfishness wasn't Godly.  I never quit, but I wish I had really gotten some better perspective on my poor behaviors before we retired!!

I especially enjoyed the chapter on acknowledging anger, sadness and fear; traits that I stuffed partly due to my family of origin.  I have now learned to "feel" what is stirring me up..and to analyze and determine a plan of action.  Freeing!

The other trait she mentioned which has plagued me was "over-functioning"...picking up everybody's jobs rather than allowing them to learn and grow in the job.  This was true in our early church settings as well as in stepping in for Bill and our kids to "take care of the details of their lives", sometimes because I thought I could do it better (sheepish grin).  I now realize that I probably did a huge dis-service to their spouses...or perhaps even a dis-service to them in training them to be like me.  Thumbs up...this is especially good for over-functioners everywhere!

Winter Getaway --Finally, SOUTH PADRE ISLAND

We loved hitting the Welcome to Texas sign, and crossing the big bridge onto the island was a bonus!

WHAT WE LOVED:  1. We walked, biked or rode the free metro anywhere we needed to go (Translation: our RoadTrek remained parked the whole week!!).  2. Friendly and clean KOA situated next door to Pier 19, a pretty outstanding restaurant.  3.  Although not as warm as we anticipated, we did use the pool and enjoyed a "night out" at the Commons with a 4 part ladies group, Shake, Rattle and Roll--just my kind of oldies music.  They even did their doo-wop moves!
4. BEACH close enough to ride to, just to sit & listen to the waves..most of the time the red flag was up.  5. Reading, watching some podcasts, napping, seeing A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.  6. Sharing our thoughts together on some great books.  7.  Doing nothing.

Come unto Me, all you who are weary and thirsty...and I WILL give you rest!

 

"My boyfriend's back and there's gonna be trouble!"

AND a lovely Valentine's meal prepared by Chef Bill, and sunset provided by the Lord!!

 

Winter Getaway....passing through LOUISIANA

Rolling into the Sam Houston State Park in Lake Charles at 5 pm, we were delighted to find out that our National Park Pass got us half price at any Louisiana state park...such a deal, $32 for 2 nights!  This was actually our first camping on this trip since we were waiting for the warmer breezes of the Gulf shores (well, we're almost on the shore!).

  

These are the Bayous of Louisiana.  Danny said that up North we call them "creeks"!!

We had a wonderful day with Danny and Linda Carl, friends from our Valley View PA days, who traveled west a few hours from Morgan City.  We met at Luna's, a great seafood spot where Danny was able to convince Bill to get something local...not the burger he had anticipated!!  He chose salmon and was a pretty happy camper!  We wandered the historic district and found a Mardi Gras museum, which was fascinating and upped our Louisiana culture index by 100%!  Of course, following all that education, we had to locate a King Cake to finish our experience of Mardi Gras.  Bill found the hidden baby Jesus in his piece, how fitting for my preacher hubby!!

  

Ending the day with a game in the camper before heading to Corpus Christi, I admitted that Bill is the Master at Rummikub!

Winter Getaway ....a few bumps on the road

On our way to Memphis, we had noted that our new refrigerator was acting up...it seemed cold at times, but then seemed to not be retaining the cold at any point when we pulled over for breaks.  When we pulled into our Airbnb after 6 pm, the inside lights would not work to assist us in gathering our necessary items for check-in...hmmm.  Being the quick witted folks that we are, Bill decided that the back battery must have some loose wires. He grabbed the flashlight and opened the back van doors, rattling around to open the area where the battery was.... silence.  He shut the door, locked up and we walked towards our "home" for the next two days.  I asked, "did you figure it out?" With the most sheepish look on his face he replied, "I forgot to get the battery out of the house."  He had retrieved the main battery for under the hood, but in our haste to get "outta Dodge", had totally forgotten the OTHER battery.  He told me not to tell anyone, but promptly told our kids so I think I am free to share this!!  HaHa!  Quick stop at AutoZone solved problem #1.

As we started on our way to Shreveport, we met with a few snow flurries coming through Arkansas, and then spotted a Camping World near North Little Rock around 2 pm.  Feeling like we deserved a break, and still thinking that our refrigerator wasn't working correctly; we pulled in to have them check our propane level (which operates the fridge, the stove, the heat)......and we were still sitting there at 6 pm when they closed!!
The propane was still at 75% but it was determined that they would fill it, except--when the hose was pulled out it broke the valve, propane spewing out everywhere.  The very bad news was that a new tank was the solution.  The next bad news was that it would cost $1500+.  The final bad news was that they did not believe they could find a propane tank for our Vintage Model..and if they could, it could take 2 weeks.  Of course, Bill's first response was to go to the bathroom to settle his upset stomach and to think!!  My husband is the world's best resource person.  He began calling different people and found a RoadTrek owner (from his Vintage RoadTrek FB group) who had purchased several propane tanks when RoadTrek went out of business a few years ago... (drum roll)  for $450!! AND, he lives in Grand Rapids so Bill can pick it up when we get home in April! The heavy load lightened, our current dilemma seemed easier to determine.  We would "wait out" the leaking propane, drive it on our merry way without propane and manage on electricity or a cooler with ice.  However, the propane had a VERY slow drip/spray and at 6:00 pm the manager reluctantly told us he couldn't let us drive until it was drained...and we should think about a motel for the night.  He graciously drove us to the closest motel where the lovely desk clerk gave us the AARP discount, bringing our total below $100, better than we thought.  We slept in our clothes, woke up the next morning, called Camping World, and were on the road by 9:30; bypassing Shreveport and on to Lake Charles to meet our friends.




Lessons Learned:  1) Something always goes wrong.  2) Humor helps.  3) Attitude Adjustments are always needed.  4) Gratefulness Wins every time.     
Overriding all of the frustrations and bad news:  God gave Bill wisdom & creativity, God provided rides with kind polite drivers, a desk clerk who generously gave us free beverages that evening, an excellent free breakfast at the hotel.  And we were extremely thankful for a fresh start on Day 4!!

Winter Getaway 2020: Part 1, MEMPHIS

Thinking we were leaving the cold behind, we departed Monday, February 3rd at 4:30 am.  The temperatures did not change a whole lot as we headed thru Illinois, but grateful to pull into our Memphis Airbnb before dark, dropped off our luggage and went a few miles for some Chinese!
Our friends Karen U. and Kerri B. gave us many ideas for our 2 day stay...so we plunged right in on Tuesday!

GRACELAND was our first stop. Talking to some other tourists, we mentioned that even in a place that should be celebratory of all that Elvis accomplished--it felt a bit somber.  My takeaways?  He was a gifted & intelligent man who was not expecting all the trappings that fame brought. He loved his family. He tried to give back. He loved to rest with his horses and friends in this place.  His grandmother instilled in him an early faith.  My other "takeaway"?  A 40 song CD for our travels!!



SUN STUDIO was a blast from the past, all kinds of pictures of 50's and 60's up and comers. I particularly loved the shot of Elvis and Johnny (one of my Dad's favorites, not sure he would have approved of this friendship in Elvis's early days of moving and grooving!!).



Since we didn't relish the thought of my directing Bill in our RV van through the unfamiliar streets of downtown Memphis ..we opted for a Lyft driver who dropped us at the studio; the downside? Walking one mile in POURING rain to THE PEABODY to see the infamous Duck Parade. It happens daily at 9 and 5.  The story goes that the hotel owner brought home his live duck decoys after a hunting jaunt.  Being a bit inebriated, he chose to dump the ducks in the indoor hotel fountain.  To his amazement, the guests loved it.  They hired a Duckmaster to train the ducks, and The Peacock is now in its 87th year of this very unusual tradition.  One of my highlights was chatting with the piano player there, who asked if I wanted to join him in a gospel song--he started Amazing Grace.  It was lovely!  I was hiding behind the piano so I don't think anyone noticed or heard...😅. We did eventually dry out somewhat and very much enjoyed our Ribs and Brisket at the Rendezvous, another one of Memphis's highlights.

  

 

  

After checking out on Wednesday morning, we headed to the National Civil Rights Museum, a non-profit located at the previous Lorraine Hotel where MLK was shot & killed.  This was not only a story of him, but of the movement he inspired and helped birth:  non-violent activism to bring awareness to the country of the inequalities of education, of work opportunities, of human kindness and justice to all.  Even though I was living through this era...it did not touch me in small-town Michigan.  I am only now becoming much more aware of the racial divide still in existence and how it has taken decades to actually flesh out the laws that were enacted to truly make non-whites equal, not just in word (law) only. One more rib sandwich at Central BBQ and we were on the road to Shreveport.....or so we thought.