Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941

On Sunday morning, 12/7/41 beginning at 7:55 a.m., 300 Japanese planes hammered our fleet and aircraft on the ground at Pearl Harbor just off the Island of Oahu for three hours. The flames, bombs, and smoke could easily be witnessed by the residents of nearby Honolulu. Our Pacific Fleet was caught completely by surprise, and although a warning had come, a commander dismissed it by saying the detected aircraft were our own returning from a training mission. Our planes on the ground were "sitting ducks," as they were parked on the runways, wing tip to wing tip, as a defense against possible sabotage. No one was predicting a preemptive air strike! Many ships were sunk, but the USS Arizona suffered the most losses.

Gloria's first memory of WW II was getting a call from her father, while she was playing at her grandparents a half-mile away, telling her, "Come home,NOW; we are at war." She and Jerry were both first graders, living 12 miles apart in Northwest Ohio, not knowing that one day the Lord would bring them together. Jerry's first memory was reading the big Monday newspaper headlines: "Japs Bomb Pearl Harbor." His first question to his mother was, "What's a Jap?"

During the War, we saw the battlefield scenes in newsreels that always preceded movies, and we listened to President Roosevelt and Lowell Thomas on the radio. Our Weekly Readers in school helped us to understand the struggles of our nation and our allies at war. Occasionally, the fire alarm in the schools would ring 10 times, indicating that we should line up against the walls in preparation for a possible bombing from our enemies.

After the War, when the USS Arizona, burial place for 1177 of our sailors, became a National Park, it was always our desire to visit this historic and solemn place. She continues to be visited by millions of people visiting Hawaii. Alongside her rusty, skeletal remains that peek above the water is the the Battleship Missouri, which was decommissioned after the Vietnam War. At last we made it to Pearl Harbor!

Aloha!

We flew from Fort Worth, TX to Hawaii on a military Space-A flight on Saturday, January 26. The plane was the Navy's equivalent of a 727, except there was much more leg room than on the commercial versions. We thought we would first be going to Travis AFB in CA and then catch a hop in a few days to Hawaii. However, when we arrived at the Naval Air Station in Fort Worth, we were told that the plane would be going directly to Oahu and leaving an hour early. There were nine passengers and six crew members on a plane built to carry 120. Upon arriving at Hickam Air Force Base, we were fortunate to be upgraded to a VIP suite for four days. We had first been told when Jerry made his hurried call from Fort Worth that our room would be in a lodge with a community bath. God is so good to us! The photos show us near our suite which was really a condo. This was Gloria's chance to try out her new Island shoes as we experienced a sumptuous Sunday brunch at the officer's club. This trip was a present from our children for our 50th wedding anniversary. It took from September until now to work in the trip due to selling our house in October and getting settled in Texas.

The "family" cutouts were done by our children and grandchildren with the admonition that we take them along to Hawaii. The "cutouts" photo was taken in our quarters; our maid was fascinated by them. She could not stop asking questions about what they represented; she said she had never seen anything like that.

This Thing Is Legendary!

The rodeo is a big deal in Texas, but it actually had its beginning in Mexico 500 years ago. At the Fort Worth Stock Show, there is a rodeo nearly every night for two weeks. Tickets are sold out months in advance for the big events at the Will Rogers Colesium. The Mexican Rodeo we attended had plenty of available seating, so we took advantage of the opportunity. It's different from other rodeos because of the emphasis on music, colorful outfits, and family participation. Beautiful senoritas with big hoop dresses and riding side saddle make this show unique. The riders we saw participate in national championships and practice three times per week. Gloria loved the bucking broncs, while Jerry liked the bull riding events. The trick riders and clowns did a great job. As one writer said, "It's all about family, tradition, and history. You have some average rodeo fans who attend, but (others) appreciate ranching heritage and understand what it took to get here."

Prior to the show we observed barrel racing, cattle being shown, and livestock being sold. Jerry, an advocate of "taking the bull by the horns," recommends keeping a fence between self and the bull.

We loved the exhibits, which included everything found in a typical fair. We even treated ourselves to a corndog. Most of the items being sold had a Texas flair.

All-Western Parade

This 112 year old Western Heritage event that moved slowly for nearly two hours down Main Street, just outside our hotel, was a sight to behold.It is billed as the world's largest non-mechanized parade. That notwithstanding, there is still lots of horse (and mule) power.
We arrived just in time to register at the Hilton and grab a most welcome cup of coffee before stepping out on the street. The weather was in the low sixties. There were around 300 entries and almost 2000 animals. There were marching bands, covered wagons, stage coaches, hundreds of horses, mules, dogs, calves and longhorn cattle. There were even people riding longhorns and children being towed by dog teams. There were craggy old ranglers, Lone Star Ladies, a milk wagon, Christian groups, Blacks, Whites, Indians, Mexicans, Conferates, and a tall, high-kicking majorette. Huge, street-wide banners proclaimed everything from Jesus to Custar's 7th Cavalry. Country music streaming from the old horse-drawn wagons was plentiful and ranged from gospel to "Burning my candle at both ends." The riders and wagon passengers were having a great time tipping their big cowboy hats and waving to 100,000 people gathered from the majestic old Tarrant County Courthouse along Main to the Convention Center and then along 9th to Houston Street, and back again to the historic courthouse. The parade was entertaining, educational and great fun!

As one would guess, the red brick streets soon evolved into a light shade of brown, but that never phased the entusiastic band members. Their mission was to provide music and not demonstrate polished shoes. At the very end of the parade came the huge mechanized street sweepers traveling in formation from one side of the street to the other. After they had passed, all evidence disappeared that would charge healthy, well-fed animals of "trotting" on pavement. It was afternoon, and we treated ourselves to lunch at a quaint, nearby cafe' before heading to the hotel for a nap and then driving to the stock show and fair.

A Weekend In Cowtown

Back in the old days, they called Fort Worth "Cowtown;" it was and is also known as, "Where The West Begins." Now it's the 17th largest city in the USA and is part of the Dallas-FW Metroplex, the fourth largest urban area in America behind, New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. No longer a cowtown, it is a rich cultural and commerical center--referred to as one of America's most liveable communities. The tall building on the right is headquarters to Pier One Imports.

The biggest annual event in Fort Worth is the Livestock Show, which includes a huge parade, a fair and rodeo. The show lasts for two weeks. We were looking for a downtown location from which to view the Saturday morning parade, but we did not decide until Friday to make the trip. There was one good room left, and it was in the Fort Worth Hilton (older building with balcony in top left photo). We had not known of the rich history connected with the old hotel until check-in. Back in 1963, it was the Hotel Texas and was the place where JFK and his family spent their last night (Nov. 21)before that horrible day in Dallas. The night before his death President Kennedy made a speech in the Hotel Texas ballroom and then held a press conference in the parking lot the morning of his Dallas departure. With him were Jackie, John, Carolyn, VP Johnson, and TX Gov. Connelly. Many pictures of the Kennedys overnight stay grace the halls of the Hilton, but the hotel has been completely remodeled since that time. Room 1530 is dedicated to JFK's memorable visit.

Within easy walking distance from the Hilton is the Convention Center. Behind it are are the Fort Worth Water Gardens, some of the most remarkable fountains we have seen in any US city center. They were designed by the famous architects, Philip Johnson and John Burgee as a quiet, serene respite from the traffic, concrete, and rapid pace that most city dwellers endure. The old railroad depot (above) where cattle used to be loaded is now used for special events.

One of the great things about Fort Worth is that there are few if any traffic snarls, and everything seems easy to find. We will visit this city often in the future, as there is much to enjoy there. It is an easy drive only 55 miles from our home straight north on I-35. It has many shopping centers, museums, theatres, Sam's Clubs, Costco, and a military air base that has Space-A flights for retirees. One can even take a canoe trip on the Trinity River each month from the Nature Center. For a large city, it is remarkably clean and is less "glitzy" than Dallas. There are lots of big hats, shiny buckles, and pretty women in western attire. You know you are in Texas when you visit Fort Worth, where the people are kind, friendly, and customer service oriented. It seems that Mexicans, Anglos and Blacks interact remarkably well.

Holiday Family Fun

We were delighted on Christmas Day to pick up Robin, Alejandro and Samuel at DFW. We had worked hard to get unpacked, purchase some new furniture, and get our decoratating accomplished prior to their arrival. They came from Virginia, and two days later Stephanie and her three children arrived from Driftwood, TX, which is a three hour drive from the south. Regrettably, Steven had to complete a construction project with his crew and could not attend. Our big family dinner, prepared by Gloria, and annual gift exchange was held on the 27th. We had drawn names several months in advance, and this traditional event has been a source of great joy for our family members for the past 45 years.

The next day, Jerry took the visiting adults antique and outlet mall shopping in Hillsboro. Gloria stayed at the house to be with the four grandchildren. The latter all traveled with Stephanie to her home the following day, and Robin and Alejandro then met up with them and Steve in Driftwood. They all eventually got to Steven's mother's home in Palacios, TX for a grand New Year's celebration. Steph's birthday was on Jan. 2, and Robin bought her a tiara so she could be queen for the day.

On their way back here, Robin's family and Jack visited the Alamo and took the famous River Walk in San Antonio, before returning to Driftwood. When the Mosqueras arrived back here, we all watched The Alamo DVD on our new HD big screen honoring Davy Crocket, Sam Houston, and Jim Bowie. Their indomitable spirits are still alive and well in Texas. Robin's family returned to Virginia yesterday. We plan to see them again in May when we will be there with our Airstream.