Our Time in Texas – Part 1 – The Loved Ones

We’re back! We got home late last night, after a 2 1/2 hour delay of departure from the Houston airport, but we are back home once again. It was a very good, very long over due trip. This trip was all about seeing the family and paying tribute to our loved ones who are no longer with us. Through all this COVID pandemic mess, the most important lesson is that life is precious, and the gift of time is the best gift we can ever give to our loved ones. After all, none of us are getting any younger, and there are no guarantees about all the tomorrows the lie ahead. We have to make time today.

My mother passed away in 2006, but sadly, I do not get a chance to visit her grave as often as I would like because I do not make it to Texas very often. So a couple of my cousins and I made a special effort to go visit our loved ones who are no longer with us. I am so glad we were able to do this together. We were there to support each other. My mother’s maiden name was Wood, and there are a lot of Wood family members who are all buried at the same cemetery. They are protected by the four Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and most of them are within just a few short steps of each other. So even now, in their eternal resting places, they are still a very close family.

My grandparents, my Uncle Raymond and Aunt Gloria and my mother are all just a few steps away from each other.

My cousins David and Donna standing beneath their parents, Raymond and Gloria, and me with my mother. Our Uncle Charles has passed away as well, but he is not buried here.

This was the sad part of the trip, but also a necessary part of the trip. Don’t be fooled though, we still had plenty of fun and good times too. We were busy catching up, laughing, telling stories and reminiscing. We were also busy making new memories for the times ahead.

Before we all went to the cemetery, we gathered at Donna’s house for a delicious lunch. Donna made a very tasty taco soup with salad and garlic bread and a bundt cake for dessert. Her son Shane and his granddaughter Kleigha joined us for the family get together as well. Sweetie, Donna’s little Maltese, decided she needed to be in all the pictures, since after all, she too is part of the family.

We were also able to get together to share more than a few laughs and stories with my Uncle Clarence. My Uncle Clarence is my mom’s youngest brother. The rest of his family was unable to make it, so we will have to make sure we can all see each other next time.

For the most part of our trip, we stayed with my Aunt Janis, so we we able to spend a lot of good quality time with her, my cousin Charlene and her daughter Karleigh, as well as Charlene’s friend Amelia. And of course, Kitty had to be involved as well.

Donna, Janis and Charlene all live fairly close to each other, in the Vidor/Orange areas. My mother was originally from Port Arthur. All of these are located in The Golden Triangle area, which are on the Gulf Coast. When my mom and dad first got married, my dad was shipping out of Port Arthur, as well as Galveston, working on the oil tankers. To get from Janis’ house to Donna’s house, we had to cross over the Rainbow Bridge. It is nice and high because it is a draw bridge to allow the tall ships to pass through.

We finished our trip in Houston, visiting with David, his wife Becky and their daughter Wendy. I didn’t get a chance to take a picture of their cat, even though she too is part of the family. Again, we were not able to see everyone else, but we all still had a great time.

And of course, I got to visit with my mother too.

I love you Mom. Always and forever.

Spend time with your loved ones and show them how you feel while you still can. Love them now, so when they are no longer here with you, they will forever be in your heart.

Stay safe and stay well Everyone. ‘Til next time.