Texas Livin'

We spent some time visiting St. Bernard’s parish, an area particularly hard-hit by Katrina, the morning before leaving New Orleans. While some rebuilding has occurred, signs of the storm remain everywhere. The rebuilding was sporadic and in no way uniform. Reconstructed buildings were often interspersed among damaged houses which had been gutted with massive piles of rubble lay alongside the buildings. Even on the main streets, the damage was blatantly obvious. Numerous commercial establishments have been abandoned.

We stopped at the local community center and I struck up a conversation with Steve, a middle-aged man who had lost his home and, eventually his wife, to the storm. Talking for more than an hour, he conveyed his account of the storm and it’s lingering effects on the community. Steve discussed a number of things including how frighteningly quickly the house had filled with water, being evacuated along with his wheelchair-bound wife, the people who still remain homeless and face eviction from their FEMA issued trailers, and, with overwhelming appreciation, the army of volunteers that have helped rebuild New Orleans. Steve’s wife died shortly after Katrina due to a heart conditioned exacerbated by the storm and he’s creating a charitable organization in her honor to support reconstructive efforts. It was quite an experience talking with him. Seeing the effects of Katrina on both an individual and the community was extremely sobering and one of the most moving events of the trip.

Flooded Homes in New Orleans





After an eight-hour drive across Louisiana and Texas, we arrived in Austin. We stayed at a fantastic hostel along the river that lacked the musty smell and drunk old men that the New Orleans hostel had boasted. Chris spent the day learning how to drive a stick-shift and, after Houston rush hour traffic, was exhausted upon arriving in Austin. Subsequently, I ventured out solo to explore the famous night-life and music Austin is lauded for.

I was directed to The Continental, a small honky-tonk bar in one of Austin’s upscale neighborhoods. After entering the bar, it only took a few minutes for me to draw one conclusion; old men in Austin have it made. An army of good-ol-boys’ no younger than sixty dominated the dance floor pausing only briefly between songs to share a quick laugh and sip their drink before selecting a new partner usually forty years their junior. I can only hope that I’ll have the energy, gusto and fire when I’m that old to head out on a Monday evening to dance until the wee hours of the morning.......

Before long, I had met a group of locals my age - Danny, Danyelle and Cassandra. Danny worked in business management and Danyelle and Cassandra were both ex go-go dancers! They were all awesome, friendly people and we closed down the bar giving the old men some competition on the dance floor.

The next morning, Chris and I arose and spent a leisurely day tooling around Austin and the University of Texas. The gorgeous sixty degree weather awakened yearnings for summer and made the fact that Christmas was less then a week away seem bizarre.

Our River View from the Hostel


Chris Napping Along the River


Chris and I shared a great taco dinner and then met up with the Austin crew from the night before. After touring an enormous Christmas light display, we headed downtown to a local club. We were soon all dancing away (even Chris!) and having a merry ol’ time when Cassandra pushed the girl off the bar.

Cassandra, who I mentioned had some prior dancing experience, at one point climbed up on an unused part of the bar. A few other girls jumped up to join her, and in the scramble to get up, knocked over one of our drinks. Cassandra saw this and insisted that the girl buy us a replacement. As we danced below unaware of any problems, an argument developed which ended as Cassandra shoved the offending drink-spiller into the inky abyss. A full-on brawl nearly ensued between the two girls and Cassandra was promptly escorted out. I know, I know..... Wow.

In her defense, my version is fairly cursory and the bar staff that escorted her out apologized profusely. Apparently, they knew the offending girl and she happened to be one with an obnoxious mouth who had caused trouble in the past. Not to be deterred, we ended up at a local karaoke bar singing quality numbers from the Top Gun soundtrack and The Beatles before retiring for the evening. All in all, an exciting night in Texas’ capital.

We left this morning headed for a glamorous destination - Socorro, New Mexico And as I sit typing in our $35 a night hotel in this town of 8,789, I can honestly say it’s everything I dreamed it would be. The sheets are clean, the local diner was tasty and I have wireless internet - life is good. Tomorrow we head for Flagstaff en route to the Grand Canyon. I’ll be in touch............

Sprawling Texas Skies