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Gloria & Physical Therapist in Big March |
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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.
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Cowboy Churches are Big in Texas |
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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.
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Lots of Bull |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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