Just Being Myself

Life on the road, especially in retirement, has many gifts for the attentive wanderer. This week, I have become aware that our lifestyle allows me to toss aside the pigeonholes where I hide away bits and pieces of myself. I do not have a boss or board to keep happy. I am not overburdened with people whose needs require that I bite my tongue constantly. Retirement and the experiences that come with it offer me the freedom to be who I am to a greater degree than I have ever had in the last 70 years. To a large degree, I don’t need to compartmentalize and fragment who I am to get along. I suspect this is why the “curmudgeon” emerges, but I am not offended by that label and wear it proudly most of the time! It offers me the chance for greater integration of who I am into the life I live! That is well worth the trade-off. This week, I am relaxing into who I am and allowing my “doing” to live comfortably with my “being” as we wander through North Central Texas.

We started our week on Sunday in the rain at Chappell Hill Luxury RV Resort. We enjoyed a quiet morning in Koko and then drove to College Station to visit with Marlene’s Dad, Brother, and Sister-in-law. We had an enjoyable afternoon catching up and sharing stories about our adventures since we saw them last Fall. After fifty years, these relationships have settled into a comfort zone grounded in accepting one another as we are. No games or attempts to impress or compete. Instead, we ride the gentle waves of time. Even when those waves are stirred up by a storm, it is good to relax on the waves and even "hang ten" occasionally.

 

Marlene's Cousins

On Monday, we met two of Marlene’s cousins for lunch at The Independence Store on Lueckemeyer Road in Independence. This small store/cafe was built by Marlene's Grandfather's cousin and still bears the family name on a façade created in the 1930s based on the Alamo. I enjoyed listening to Marlene and her cousins talk about their kids and grandkids and the last couple of decades of life! Later in the week, we met Marlene's Aunt and Cousin for lunch. Marlene enjoyed a couple of hours just being Marlene Roese Dees, daughter of Marjorie Lueckemeyer, and Aunt Betty's niece. Catching up renews these family relationships with a new familiarity. The laughter, empathy, and a sense of belonging speak to a heart and soul and remind us that life is not a solo journey. We have a yesterday that we can accept for what it was. Tomorrow, however, is wide open, and the renewed familiarity shapes the future of these relationships. We left with a desire to stay in touch. Thank you, FB. We look forward to getting together again when time and travel permit.

 

The Family at Blue Bell Creamery

On Tuesday, Melissa and grandsons Anthony, Luke, and Alex drove up from Galveston for the day. We visit this area every Spring to see the wildflowers and the two cemeteries where Marlene's family are buried. This year, Marlene was able to show the next generation where their family is buried and tell some of the family stories. These moments allow us to help these young men to know that we are a family. In time, they can grow into accepting themselves as part of a larger family and understand more about themselves as children of German Immigrants who traveled the Atlantic to start a new life in the rolling hills of Texas. Here are a few shots from our day at Old Baylor, Independence, and Old Washington. 

At Old Baylor

The Dogrun at Old Baylor

 

 Hearing the story!

Exploring the story!

This is Marlene's Cousin, Debra who retired from Blue Bell Creamery. This picture is in the Creamery Museum and shows her mixing the first batch of Cookies and Cream Ice Cream many years ago.  The plaque says that she had to open every bag of Oreos by hand before mixing them into the Ice Cream. Fortunately they automated the process later on, but imagine spending you day opening Oreo bags?

Along with visiting family, we enjoy seeing the Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush that cover the hills this time of year. We were fortunate that they are approaching a peak bloom in mid-March. I do not need to explain the significance of the Bluebonnet to any Texan. But, for the rest of you, this little lupine offers a tie to the land of Texas and our ancestors. For Marlene, the blue carpet over the rolling hills beings back many memories. I have the same experience when I find them among the cactus and rocks of the Hill Country. I suppose the taller Bluebonnets of the Big Bend Region carry similar experiences for West Texas folks. And the North Texas folks when they see the solid blue fields around Dallas. Regardless of where a Texas is born, we share a love for and deep appreciation for the Bluebonnet and their companions, the Indian Paintbrush. Here are a few of the pics from this week. 

The Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinu texenius)

Indian Paintbrush

Columns from Old Baylor

Ruins at Old Baylor

Gay Hill School House  (I knew someone who attended school in this building.)

Bermudiana

 

Our last day in Chappell Hill was much like our first, with intermittent thunderstorms and the threat of severe weather. Next week we will be taking Koko in for a "slidectomy” and replacement. We will stay at the Lone Star Lodge on Lake Ray Roberts for 2-5 days until the work is completed. This requires planning. So, I took the day to make our plans and work out the logistics of the lifestyle change. And that is okay! We are not "doing" traveling; we are "being" wanderers. I have no need to fill every moment of every day with adventures. We can enjoy a quiet day just by living our lives. We have no need to impress anyone, even those of you who are reading these words and have been following along with us for the last 20 months. This is not a travelogue of amazing adventures. It is a chronicle of two people who have chosen a new way of living for themselves. This is who we are and what we do. We all live lives where high adventures and "slidectomies” are part of the deal. I hope you continue to find our wanderings enjoyable and meaningful.

We drove to the Rusk KOA on Friday and set up in the misting rain. The drive was uneventful, but this was my first time on this stretch of the El Camino Real (The Royal Road). This route traces an old Native American path through East Texas and into the Brush Country near San Antonio. The Spanish built the road to link San Antonio de Bexar with Nacogdoches to exert their control over the Native People and the Mexicans who lived there. The route is likely thousands of years old and includes the Caddo Mound Site near Rusk. Historical markers occur every 2-4 miles along the way, and numerous pioneer cemeteries dot the roadside.

I look forward to returning here at some point and driving the El Camino Real, stopping at every historical marker, and reading up on the people who have traveled this beautiful, rolling countryside. But for now, we only have two nights, and I hope to find some dogwoods in bloom before we move on to Lake Ray Roberts on Sunday.

 

Our wandering has been learned from experience over a lifetime of travel. Who has been my teacher? It is none other than my travel companion after 50 years on the road! Together, we developed our rules for the road and discovered our favored ways of travel. Our way of life has evolved by finding our way along the twisting and turning roads of everyday living.

 

More importantly, Marlene has helped me see the difference between doing Bob and being Bob. I have done Bob in the pulpit, behind the wheel, and a thousand other places. However, each of those Bobs did things a little differently, depending on the situation and circumstances. However, learning to be Bob was only possible when I stopped trying to fill a role or impress someone. With Marlene, being loved without conditions makes learning how to be Bob possible. I can continue to learn, discover, and be myself because I am worth the effort. That is the real treasure buried in the field of retirement. And it is worth spending a lifetime to acquire. With that in mind, I offer you a folk song I found that speaks to this soul’s journey.

 

“Be Yourself” by Wilder Woods

 

“Show me where your darkness lies, you don't ever have to hide

Oh, you can be yourself, yeah, you can be yourself

I feel your hidden river ragin', I'm not askin' you to change it

Oh, you can be yourself, yeah, you can be yourself

Say what you want, I don't care where it goes”

 

“If I'm gonna love you completely, we gotta let it all show

Who knows you better? Who could love you any more?

You can trust me completely, I'm just askin' for

You be yourself, oh, you can be yourself”

 

“You're my hero, you're my villain, oh, and I don't care who wins

Oh, you can be yourself, yeah, you can be yourself

I'm in love with all your pages, I don't want to see it end

Oh, you can be yourself, yeah, you can be yourself."

 

“Say what you want, I don't care where it goes

If I'm gonna love you completely, we gotta let it all show

Who loved you better? Who could love you any more?

You can trust me completely, I'm just askin' for

You to be yourself, oh, you can be yourself”

 

“The way I see it, we are all afraid to love (be yourself)

It's safe to let me love you

No part of you I wouldn't touch (you can be yourself)

We fall down, we weaponize our words (be yourself)

No secret has the power to diminish your worth."

 

“Say what you want, I don't care where it goes

If I'm gonna love you completely, we gotta let it all show

Who loved you better? Who could love you any more?

You can trust me completely, I'm just askin' for

You to be yourself, oh, you can be yourself”

 

The Meaning Behind The Song: Be Yourself by Wilder Woods, https://oldtimemusic.com/w3/the-meaning-behind-the-song-be-yourself-by-wilder-woods/.

 

(If you are unfamiliar with this song, check out this YouTube link.)

 

Travel well, my friends! I hope you are being loved into becoming you!

 

Bob

Looking for My Groove!

We have been back on the road for two weeks, and I am still waiting to get back in the groove of our wandering! Part of it is that we have been to places we have visited before. There was little anticipation or uncertainty to fuel my wandering spirit. We went. We saw. And we moved on. It was more touristing than wandering. But there may be more to it.

The wandering life has a rhythm and routine that demands that I stay present to our changing circumstances. We arrive, explore, listen to the vibes, and follow our thoughts and feelings as we wander around an area. Some days are very uneventful, while others are terribly engaging! The latter makes the former bearable! I am still waiting for that groove and may have to wait another week, but more on that later.

 

Last Saturday, after arriving in Rockport, we paid homage to the ultimate Winter Texans, the Whooping Cranes on 8^th Street at the Lamar Peninsula. These amazing birds migrate from Northern Canada to Aransas Bay along the Texas Coast. They lay their eggs and hatch their young as Canadians. Then, when the winter winds begin to blow, they migrate 2,500 miles to raise their chicks in the warm waters of the bay, where they feast on crabs and anything else they can find in the marsh. These incredible birds stand over 5 feet tall and walk with a stately grace, befitting their place as the largest bird in North America. They remain endangered, but bi-national conservation efforts have seen their numbers climb from less than 50 just 75 years ago to over 200 birds in this one flock. It is always a treat to see these wondrous creatures.

 

Whooping Cranes on 8th Street

A Young Whooper spending his first winter in Texas.

The actual view from 8th Street.

A beautiful Thistle

 

Last Saturday was also our 50^th Anniversary, and we went to a gathering at the RV resort where we were staying. A local band played 60s pop and country hits. We sat with a couple, Cindy and Bud, from Colorado Springs, who are spending the winter along the coast. Marlene even got me on the dance floor for a few slower-paced songs. It was good to celebrate the occasion and brave the environs of the Winter Texans at the RV Park.

 

The 12 footer that greeted us!

The sunshine on Monday enticed us to make the trip to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. We have been here often and enjoy the trails. It was the first weekend of spring break, so we enjoyed the trails with quite a few people, including a scout troop from Huntsville and an Ornithology Club from Ohio State. We saw more Gators than birds, but it was a good day to be out and about in an extraordinary place. I remember coming here with my Mom in the '60s to hopefully see one of the rare Whooping Cranes from the observation tower. They were tiny specks in the distant marsh below. But it felt like home and brought back many memories of my Mom and our many subsequent visits over the years with Melissa and Matt. 

Whoopers flying over the Aransas Marsh

A fresh water pond along the gravel bars

Spanish Dagger

Primrose or Buttercup

Northern Studfish

The Butter in the Buttercup

A ten footer

Gator cuddling

Gator Love

An 8 footer giving room to the 12 footer.

Prickly Poppies

A Paintbrush struggling for greatness.

A pair of whoopers from the tower.

The tower

Part of a stream of White Ibis

A Grackle striking a noble pose.

A string of White-faced or Glossy Ibis

Marbled Godwits

Red-tailed Hawk hovering over the marsh.

Another Red-tailed Hawk

 

The clouds returned on Tuesday, and so I spent the day replenishing the freezer with Smoked Chicken. One of the joys of life on the road is the opportunity to use my pellet smoker. Unfortunately, not every park allows them, and the weather does not always cooperate. Therefore, we will buy a whole chicken and some thighs and breasts and load up the grill when possible. We will enjoy a fresh smoked chicken dinner and then pack the rest in the freezer for other times. Yep, life is good, even on cloudy days!

 

We headed to Port Aransas and the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center on Wednesday. We were here on the way down last Fall, but it is always worth the trip. This is a marsh next to the Port A Water Treatment plant. But the birds do not mind the wafting aromas that float on the breeze. After a morning of birding, we had lunch at MacDaddy’s in Port A before checking out the beach. Did I mention it was Spring Break? The beach was crowded with families and College students. (200K college students go to universities within a couple hundred miles of Port A, and a good percentage of them were on the beach.) We decided to head into Corpus Christi and look for the Cattle Tyrant. This South American bird was spotted at the Corpus Christi Waterfront Tee. We arrived and found more crowds, but no Tyrant. So, we enjoyed a nice walk and headed back to Rockport.

Portrait of the American Coot

Portrait of the Snowy Egret

Black-necked Stilt

Snowy Egret

A Disheveled Shoveler

Female Blue-winged Teal

Portrait of the Black-necked Stilt

Tri-color Heron

A10-12 footer

Male Shoveler

Portrait of the Shoveler

Grre-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal

Giving the Gator room

Pied-billed Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe underwater

Pied-billed Grebe Portrait

The Dragon Pose

What big feet you have!

American Avocets

A cohort of young males jousting with each other.

Oops, getting too close!

Tri-color Heron in profile

A Snowy offering a physical comment on my presence.

A pair of Shovelers

They are quite beautiful.

Green-winged Teal

Shoveler Portrait

Double-crested Cormorant with his own dragon pose.

Female Grackle

The Lex from the Tee

A Pelican on the prowl.

 

Thursday's weather turned cloudy and windy. We spent the day preparing Koko for our drive to Chappell Hill the next day. This was the day when I felt the least groovy with our wandering. We had seen the sights, including the Museums and downtown Rockport. There was little to entice me to leave the park, so we stayed around Koko. This is alright, but it does not feel much like wandering. Plus, the forecast for our drive on Friday promised to be potentially rough. Significant storms were forecast. I knew we would have a narrow window to get there. So, we packed up Koko and kept an eye on the Weather Channel.

 

Friday arrived, and it was a very anxious drive day. As the day began, I believed we were okay and started with a calm packing up. This lasted until I looked at the updated weather forecast at 9:00 AM. The NWS had moved the storm's arrival up by an hour, and we had about 4 hours to make our 3 ½ drive to Chappell Hill before a large, potentially dangerous storm arrived. We quickly finished prepping Koko. (Thank goodness for the checklist. When we hurry, we tend to forget things, but the checklist helped me relax a little knowing all was ready.) We pulled out of Rockport and had to drive by one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants on the coast, Los Canales in Tivoli. Our hurry-up offense proved effective. We arrived in Chappell Hill and got set up. But as soon as we closed the door after completing all the hookups, the first drops of the storm began. The area we had driven through on the way less than an hour before was hit by high winds, heavy rains, and large, damaging hail. (I feel for my friends, family, and the rest of the folks who had to endure that storm. I hope they recover quickly from the damage.)

Along with this, Friday was the day I was supposed to hear from the Repair Service, where we will have our slide mechanism replaced in 10 days. They had been waiting for the parts from the factory in Tucson. After arriving at our park, I received the email that the parts were complete and would be shipped on Monday. They will arrive in time for our appointment on the 25^th. After the storm passed and the emails with the RV Service folks were complete, I was ready for a good night's sleep. The first I had had in a while! We survived a challenging day, and I am ready to find my wandering groove once we get through the next couple of weeks of visiting family, getting the repairs made, and past the cool, rainy weather on all-too-familiar turf.

 

And so, here we are in Chappell Hill Luxury RV Resort just outside of Brenham, TX. This is very familiar territory for us. We arrived as the Bluebonnet Season was in full bloom. However, it may be a rainy week. We are also about 30 minutes from Marlene’s Dad in College Station. She also has cousins in Brenham. While here, we will revisit some of our old haunts in search of Bluebonnets, which we have done nearly every year for the last 25+ years. So, there will be only limited opportunities for wandering. But, we will have the chance to wrap up the last of our preparations for our mega-wander into the Midwest for the next 6 months.

After a lifetime of saying "groovy," I am starting to really appreciate what the word means. As I was updating my travel plans and taking care of travel budget stuff on the computer, my playlist offered a serendipitous song, "The 59th Street Bridge Song", or "Feelin’ Groovy” by Paul Simon. The words spoke to my soul in new ways. They helped me recover the essence of our lifestyle on the road. Each syllable resonated with my hopes and dreams, and I could see the groove forming before my eyes. It was time to drop the needle in the groove and let the music play! It was time to feel the groove.

 

“Slow down, you move too fast

You got to make the morning last

Just kicking down the cobblestones

Looking for fun and feelin’ groovy

Ba da da da da da da, feelin’ groovy”

 

“Hello, lamppost, what’cha knowin’?

I've come to watch your flowers growin’

Ain’t’cha got no rhymes for me?

Doot-in doo-doo, feelin’ groovy

Ba da da da da da da, feelin’ groovy”

 

“I got no deeds to do

No promises to keep

I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep

Let the morning time drop all its petals on me

Life, I love you

All is groovy”

The 59th Street Bridge Song by Paul Simon

 

I look forward to sharing this groove with you. I hope you find your own and wander into the good life that awaits you.

 

Travel well, my friends. It is the only trip we get, so we must make the best of it!

 

Bob