The Pancake House in Lubbock, Texas is a local landmark. It’s been there for decades. I remember eating there now and again when I worked at Tech. When I’m in town, I make sure I get there. With all the chain stores around, I still prefer local whenever I can.
I met a friend there yesterday for breakfast. We had a great time visiting, catching up, and sharing a meal. The Girl snoozed quietly next to me, enjoying a warm floor and the energy that bonds long-term friends.
I could live here again, I think. But maybe it’s my role to just pass through here now and again. I don’t really know just yet.
This miniature pump jack was tipping. Maybe it really was bringing black gold to the surface. Regardless, it made an interesting picture.
I passed this miniature pump jack on my way through western Louisiana or eastern Texas. After I passed it, I decided it had to photographed. So, I turned around and returned to the spot. The Girl sniffed around while I shot a few images. It made me smile.
The Witter-Smith Chapel, adjacent to a geocache-hiding cemetery in rural Arkansas.
Traveling along State Highway 23, I stopped out in the middle of nowhere Arkansas at the Witter-Smith Chapel. The stop was partly for a break for me, partly for a break for the Girl, and partly to see if I could find a geocache that was listed near the adjacent cemetery.
I accomplished all tasks but one — I didn’t find the geocache. But the Girl and I had a nice break from the 4Runner, the road, and a good stretch of the legs. It is important to remember those who lived before us and I honor those folks when I visit their graves. As a boon, the chapel made a nice capture.
The entry to the little church at the cemetery where Dad is buried.
While in Rolla, I visited Mom/Dad’s plots at the local cemetery. My intent is to have a plaque placed to memorialize Wife at the foot of Mom’s plot. So, we looked around while I was there, talked a bit, and I got the contact information needed to make the call.
After they left, the Girl and I kicked around the cemetery a bit more, me hoping to find a geocache (and to just spend some time outdoors without it raining). There was no geocache, but the Girl and I had fun spending outside time together anyway.
I elected to drive out to Pilot Knob to pay Dad’s gravesite a visit. Although he died in 1995, I still talk to him and wish I had some of his insight and wisdom to draw on. I know he’d tell me to make up my own mind, but he had a way of asking questions and telling stories that provided some of the perspective I always seem to lack.
It’s beautiful little cemetery, tidy, well-kept, peaceful. I saw that my stepmom is still alive. I wandered around there for a bit, talking to my Dad and thinking back on the time we spent together. Those few days before he died are especially poignant. I remember standing on the front porch of his house, watching a thundershower and listening to the lightning — safe a dry… until the wind shifted and blew the rain in on us. Then we scattered back into the house to keep dry. I’m still laughing although it was 20-years ago.
On the way out I noticed the geometry of the entry to the little church. It needed a capture, so I made one.
The geocache across U.S. 63 was not to be found. The Girl and I had a nice hike anyway, at least unti she was spooked by shotgun fire across the way. She needed to coaxing to hop into the 4Runner when we left.
I spent a few more days with Mom/Dad there in Rolla. Thanksgiving celebration was wonderful and I’m honored to have spent it with the family.
I left Monday and stopped in Willard to visit my grandmother. She recently entered a nursing home there and I wanted to see her. She just turned 100-years old and that’s old by any measure. That she was in a nursing facility was not good news. As I expected, she’s not doing well and I think she’s ready to die and be released of her struggle. I can’t blame her for that and she greeted me with the same smile and grace that she’s always had, just weaker and tired. She went back to sleep as I spoke to her.
I wandered down through Arkansas the last couple of days, spending a lot of my time on State Highway 23. I collected a couple of geocaches, a few images, and spent a lot of time remembering. Nana will be gone soon. Three years ago Wife was struggling with her radiation therapy and this time of year is always an emotional challenge for me. I don’t think I’ll ever adjust to Wife being gone.
I know this comes up on this space frequently and sometimes it seems like I’m whining. But this is my reality. The loss of someone this close is not something one just gets over. There are times when the loss is more keenly felt and writing about it here is one way I process my grief.
This morning I dropped into Louisiana to pick up a geocache and collect another state. I drove through the northwest corner of the state, remembering the marshlands that make up most of Louisiana. Then I turned west and worked my way into Texas.
I started the process of procuring a marker for Wife. I’ll have it placed at the foot of her mom’s plot. There will be a permanent marker to remember her. I think it’s the last thing that needs to be done.
It felt good to be in Texas again. I stopped in Gainesville to spend the night. Getting access to the Internet was something of a problem, but it eventually was worked out. I got caught up on everything that needed doing and will soon call it a day. I don’t have a long day tomorrow, but I have been waking really early. Plus the Girl needs Walkies in the morning (as do I) and I don’t want to push it too late or it will be dark by the time I get to Lubbock.
I’m looking forward to seeing some family and friends this trip. I missed a bunch of them the last time I passed through, but those were different circumstances. I don’t have as much time as I’d like for this trip, but at least the time I have is mostly mine.
I have many things I’m thankful for. I spent time this morning remembering those things (including people) and prayed as I drove, thanking God for his kindness, grace, mercy, and for permitting me to have to wonderful people in my life.
The Front Desk of the Waffle House in Lebanon, Missouri — A Busy Place!
I left Rolla, Missouri yesterday about 0730 and headed towards Springfield to see my maternal grandmother. It was a gray, drizzly day and I drove through showers heavy enough to require the windshield wipers off and on all day. After about an hour, I decided a cup of coffee would be nice and it’s always a good idea to get out of the car for a few minutes, stand, walk around, and clear my head. Plus, the Girl appreciates time on her feet and new opportunities to leave pee-mail.
So, it was a deal. Of course, it was raining in Lebanon. Therefore, the pee-mail delivery was curtailed in favor of a dry spot at a booth inside the local Waffle House.
Waffle House is a favorite stop. It was when my family was with me and it remains so now. I like Waffle House better than Denny’s in many ways. Both evoke a sense of nostalgia and wanderlust in this old man. Waffle House, though, is more the quintessential American Diner. It evokes a greater sense of the past than Denny’s, at least for me. Plus, Waffle House waffles are much better than the Denny’s offering. It is Waffle House, after all.
So I enjoyed my coffee and ordered a Pecan Waffle. The server asked about the Girl, who was pleased to come out for a greet and then return to her snooze under the table. I watched the servers work and interact with the clientele while I remembered all those times I spent with Wife and Kids on the road. Now it’s just me and the Girl, wandering a bit, a few destinations in mind but no real reason to be anywhere in particular at an particular time.
I spent time with Daughter and her family this Fall. I saw my Denver kids this summer. I’m headed to Texas to visit friends and family there for a few days. Then I think I’ll head toward Carson City to retrieve a few things from my storage unit and see Younger Son and friends there. I’m thinking I might nead to Washington for Christmas to spend the end of the year with a friend there. Plus, I’d like to see the coast again and the Cascades in snow.
My waffle arrived just as I caught up with my social media and finished my reverie. It was really tasty and I’m glad I stopped, rested, and got a snack. I had a couple more cups of coffee, then the Girl and I walked next door to the Knife Outlet. They had big display cases of Case and Buck knives, far too many for me to select anything. So, I window-shopped a bit and we left to continue on toward Springfield.
