Hola San Antonio

After two of the most wonderful days on Earth we just knew that day 3 of our Texas Experience couldn't be any better and likely not match the first two. To our delight, we were so terrifically mistaken. As Jo would say, if asked, how can we have been mistaken about a day in Texas being just as AWESOME as the day before?

We were greeted by the now familiar smell of Starbucks quality coffee. We also had breakfast. I found time to lie beside the pool on the hammock like swing. You would have never known we were in the middle of the city. It was so peaceful. I had asked to go to the Alamo. I think Jo wanted to go to the Riverwalk and everyone agreed that it was a Texas size shame that I had never had a hurricane. Those are really the only three things on our agenda, so you can see how we didn't really think the day, while being fun, would come close in comparison to the previous days.

I want to start out this day with the story of our hosts, Don & Nadeen. It truly is a Hollywood type love story. Who knew that really happened? Don and Nadeen knew each other from a few social events they each had attended years ago in Muskogee, OK. Don claims to have never met Nadeen. Anywho, Nadeen was on year 15 or 16 after her divorce. She found out from her cousin that Don's wife had passed away. Nadeen is a wonderfully thoughtful woman, she wrote him a letter. To her surprise, he wrote back. Marlene (Nadeen's daughter) suggested that they email each other. Nadeen had no clue how to even turn on a computer so the task of actually sending the email fell upon Marlene. Marlene and Nadeen say that the author was Nadeen, Don disputes that. =) After a couple of months of this correspondence he invited Nadeen to Germany (where he was currently living (retired military- parttime employee of the CIA) and he offered to pay her fair. Only a fool would turn that down. Their first few minutes together he was kissing her or if he's telling the story, she was kissing him. Their second date, he proposed. The pictures are incredible. They have been married since 2000 and are truly living the "happily everafter."

Ok, now to the day. We went to the Alamo. It is awe inspiring. It is a major piece of American/Texan/Mexican history. I've been once before and was in awe. This time Don was our tour guide and he knows everything about everything. When we left the Alamo we walked a couple blocks and came upon this church. They were about to begin a service and had the live music going. We went in to observe. I immediately had the urge to sprinkle the Holy Water - kneel and pray. As we walked out, I was caught off guard. We walked by the remains of the men that fell trying to save the Alamo. This tribute is so powerful in it's simplicity. A powerful reminder of the risks and lives that have been taken for our homeland.

We went to the Mexican Market; the Riverwalk; ate at a wonderful Mexican restaurant. In the midst of the day we happened upon this child enjoying the Texas sun. I couldn't help but get a picture. Sadly, this was the last full day of vacation. The next morning we packed up, said our goodbyes, visited Geisla (sp) the wonderful German woman that lives next door, and headed back North.

The motto for the weekend was "It's All Good!" and it really was. No regrets. Good Times, Good Friends, It's All Good!

Go then there are different worlds than these...