Our Month in the Metroplex

Gloria  & Physical Therapist in Big March

Higher, higher!

We spent all of January in North Dallas while Gloria attended daily physical therapy sessions for Parkinson’s patients. The focus was on improving balance and gaining strength. Just as we did in October 2011, we stayed at Ark House, an apartment for patients in need of long-term medical treatment. What started several years ago as a Sunday school ministry continues today to offer quality housing for only $15 per day to out-of-town patients. Had it not been for Ark House our daily commute would have required 150 miles round trip driving.

Cowboy Churches are Big in Texas

Stand Tall in the Saddle for Jesus & America

While Gloria profited from the therapy, we also took advantage of living in the “Big D” for our personal enjoyment. One event that always appeals is the annual Fort Worth Stockyard Parade and Rodeo.  On a warm, beautiful Saturday morning we sat outside the downtown Hilton in our folding chairs to watch an endless array of horses, covered and open wagons, stage coaches, and numerous bands passed by. Thousands of people lined the streets for eight blocks waving at the participants in their fine, colorful, western attire. Myriad mint-conditioned wagons rolled smoothly down the streets as their passengers responded appropriately to enthusiastic onlookers. Carefully groomed horses and mules seemed to sense that they were being admired. Silver-clad bridles, saddles, and harnesses gleamed in the sunlight. The Hilton where we sat is the old Texas Hotel where JFK and Jackie spent their last night together. It was there that President Kennedy made his last speech before heading to neighboring Dallas on that terrible, fateful day, Friday, November 22, 1963. The horrible news of his assassination rocked the entire world. Jerry was Social Services Supervisor at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, and we both remember exactly where we were when we heard the unbelievable, tragic news. That weekend everyone was glued to their TVs, and we would be totally shocked when, right before our eyes, Jack Ruby blatantly shot assassin Lee Harvey Oswald to death as he was being escorted in handcuffs by jail officers. Almost no one worked on Monday, the day of the memorable funeral in Washington D.C. It was all so surreal.

Lots of Bull

Lost your hat cowboy!

While in the Metroplex we attended the rodeo at the Will Rogers Coliseum in Fort Worth. Before the main event we shopped the huge vendor area where one can buy nearly anything that is related to ranching, western style living, and Texas--cowboy hats, gaudy skirts, western furniture, and even tractors. We bought a big piece of metal art (praying cowboy with horse) for the elevated garden behind our house. Some of the best riders on the circuit were in the flag-draped arena to ride ill-natured, bucking horses and huge, angry bulls. Calf roping and barrel racing were other events that captured our interest along with a wild stagecoach race. The kids got involved by trying to capture loose, running calves and wrestle them to the ground. A crazy motorcycle stunt rider roared up a ramp and then safely jumped the full length of a big pickup truck and long horse trailer. All in all it was quite a show that had something for everyone and exceeded our expectations. The next day we attended First Baptist Dallas Sunday school and church. Pastor Jeffers had already gained national attention by telling his congregation that Mormonism is a cult—not a Christian religion.

Hillsboro, Texas Courthouse

We did lots of shopping during the month and toured an art exhibit. We also joined the Dallas Museum of Art where Gloria was excited to see a special traveling exhibit by famous fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier. Talk about wild outfits and outlandish glitz! We love our small, quiet town of Hillsboro, but every once in a while we need to get away to the Metroplex to get a taste of culture and city life. We often stay at Naval Air Station Fort Worth where military retirees can rent a two-room luxury suite for only $60 per night. One can also catch a space-available flight to many places as we did in 2008 when we flew to and from Hawaii. Urban benefits notwithstanding, residing in small town America does have its advantages. We don’t think we could be living in a better place that meets our overall needs than our gated North Texas Airstream Community. Hillsboro has less than 9000 people, and traffic is never a problem, even though we can see I-35 from our front door. We love our church where Jerry sings in the choir. Gloria has easy access to every kind of quality medical help she needs whether in Temple, Waco, or the Metroplex. Even in Hillsboro, our small community hospital is highly rated. Our caring neighbors are all Airstreamers or retired Airstreamers, and finding able Bridge players is not a challenge.

Ships at Rest in a Foggy Harbor: Valdez, AK

Jerry got some good news regarding his photography. One of his Alaska photos was selected by PC World magazine as “Hot Pick of the Week” in December. Several of his Newfoundland photos were used as a composite by Airstream’s Blue Beret magazine to create the cover for the February edition.