Monday, October 13th, after leaving Albuquerque where I just attended the Balloon Fiesta, and then spending a couple of hours at the horse rescue about an hour east of Albuquerque, I continued driving east and stopped for the night in Amarillo, Texas, at the Welcome Center. Tuesday morning, I got up and drove to Fort Worth where I am spending a week or so at my friend Sue’s house. Sue and I got together with a few of our mutual friends for lunch and dinner a few times. It’s great seeing my long time friends that I seldom see anymore since we live in different states.
Before I left on this trip, I contacted one of my high school classmates who lives in the Dallas area to see if we can get together when I get to Fort Worth. He said to let him know when I arrive, so I did. We met for lunch and had a great time sharing our stories and catching up on life. Don is his name and he was active in football and other sports during our high school years. I remember that even though I was shy and introverted in school that Don was always kind to me and talked with me, as did several other guys and gals. Last year when our class had our 45th reunion and they found me on the Internet, I received cards and emails from many classmates, we didn’t stay in touch after graduation in 1968. It has been great to reconnect and several of us stay in touch now. Don and his family take trips and we have been to some of the same places so it was nice to share our experiences about those locations.
Sue and her therapy dog Pepper volunteered their time at a homeless shelter in downtown Fort Worth, as did several other owners and their dogs. It was really amazing watching the people at the homeless shelter interact with these special dogs who have been through training courses with their owners.
On Monday morning, Sue and I went to spend a little while in Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth. She wanted me to see the changes made to Sundance Square where they took a large parking lot and changed it into an area where there are water gardens and sitting areas for concerts, or for people to just sit and enjoy the park and nearby businesses. A section of the street adjacent to the park is closed to vehicles so people can safely walk through this area. I was really fascinated by the water garden features and I took some videos of the water as it changed from soft flow to waves and another from almost no water spouting upward to large spurts. MVI_6558 The side of one building had a large western mural painted on it. This park area is nice addition to the downtown area.
Sue and I also walked by the Bass Performing Arts Center where large marble angels extend out from the side of the building. In 2011, Sue, her husband Mark, and I went to the Performing Arts Center to see Bugs Bunny conduct the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, it was so funny and wonderful.
Sue and Carol
As Pat, Sue, and I were discussing where I would be going after leaving Fort Worth in a few days, I was giving thought to the tentative plans I had to drive to see some friends in Leander, which is south of Waco and north of Austin. As much as I would like to have time with these friends, I don’t think I will be driving the extra two hours south to get there. The past ten days have not been the best for me healthwise. My pain has been increasing quite a bit in my abdomen and where my tumor is has been more painful and sensitive to touch. My appetite is less and I often don’t feel like eating much, if anything at all. So, I decided to leave Sue’s house the end of this week and go to visit with my friends in Elm Mott, near Waco in Homestead Heritage. I have spent lots of time in this community, you can search my website for other stories written about preparing for the Thanksgiving Homestead Fair and the fair itself. The stories will be in October 2011 and 2012.
I was planning on staying there at Homestead Heritage until after Thanksgiving so I could help everyone get ready for the Thanksgiving Homestead Fair, but I will see how I’m feeling in a week or two and then decide what my travel plans will be. If I’m feeling okay I might stay longer. My firefighter friends in Georgia want me to come visit them again too. So, I could stay in the Waco area for two or so weeks, then head east towards Georgia and Florida and stop along the way to camp or explore new places I have not been to yet. That way, if my health continues to worsen, or the pain keeps increasing, I will be closer to home. Right now, I’m about 1,400 miles from home. If I get to Georgia or north Florida, it will be about 400 to 600 miles from home. I will do this journey like I’ve done the previous six weeks of it, a day at a time. I don’t have to be anywhere at any particular time, so I can continue to write my plans in the sand and revise as necessary.
Fabulous Carol, just fabulous. As I read, and reread, some of your posts it becomes more apparent how important it is to “Stop. Look. Listen.” as we travel each day. Our adventures may be in a hot air balloon or a commute to work. There is wonder everywhere if we look for it; appreciation of the wonder is enhanced by our fellow travelers. May we all be as accepting, appreciative and generous as you are living each day with true meaning. You are an example of a truly fulfilling life. Blessings and love, Maggie