Aunt Sue, Hooks, etc.

 I flew to Dallas on Thursday morning from Cedar City, arriving around 5:30 pm. Poor David had to drive in the dark, thru rush hour traffic to get back to Springtown with us. I won't ask him to do that again! Night, traffic, stress. Not a good mix, poor guy.

But Friday was a bit better. Still another trip to DFW. But it was in daylight, and not during rush hour. He forgot what time my flight arrived, so that's why there needed to be two trips to the airport-- once for me, again for a rental car. So we got up, fed, dressed and ready, headed to the DFW airport, got a car, parked HIS in the remote lot and headed for New Boston, TX. Lunch along the way was at Boston Market in Grapevine. And another rest stop... Trial and error to find express ways...more traffic, accidents...

But we had time to spare in East Texas, so we found the places we'd need to be in New Boston later and tomorrow, grabbed an early dinner at a greasy spoon. Still had more time, do we toodled around in Hooks for a bit and dropped in on Dave's friend, Steven Lin, to say hi, drop off a couple of books. Then around the High School. Then past Aunt Sue's house... Past the street where I used to live, Down Garden Road. Absolutely NOTHING looked familiar. No-thing. Zippo. Nada.

We drove to New Boston for a 6 p.m. Rosary Mass at the funeral home. I did not recognize Theresa. Neither did David. But we re- introduced each other. Others came. I'm friends on Facebook with most. And Uncle Mike came from back east! It was nice to see him. Aunt Karen is staying with Chris and Liz in MD. Aunt Karen has shirt term memory loss and doesn't do well with change. Or travel.

There were lovely flowers and plants, many of her church friends, square dance friends, and family. A LOT of happy visiting was going on. It was noisy and happy. And it should have been! She was a happy woman, she had a lovely long life. 

The Rosary Mass was interesting. Lots and lots of "Hail Mary's". Lots and lots. We counted close to seventy. But we got a lot more visiting done after that, too. 

Pretty flowers and plants. The standing spray on right is what Donna ordered from the Martin and Marilyn Autrey family.

In Hooks, in front of the HS basketball gym.

Floral arrangement.

Informal visiting.

Aunt Sue's four remaining children, left to right, Eileen, Theresa, Richard, Michael.

Michael's wife, Toni (center). My Uncle Mike on Left.

Michael and Toni's grandchild, Noah. Three days before, he was in a pediatric ICU. He's a little miracle baby. Prayers are answered.

Richard and David. Richard and my brother, Robert, are the same age. Richard had heart surgery and has been trying to live healthily, according to Michael Jaixen. 

Cousins.

And with Uncle Mike.

Michael and his grandson

 They accidentally wore matching outfits. Cute. Noah's 16 months.

See? We really did enjoy our visits.

My attempt at a cousin selfie with Richard

Eileen, Theresa, me, Uncle Mike.

David thought I needed to experience "Dukes," which is a gas station along I-30. It's big, nice, but doesn't compare to Buckee's. NOTHING compares with Buckee's, haha.