Dallas and beyond

A non stop trip to Dallas.  That sounds easy enough.
   Fly on Friday
      Wedding on Saturday
         Sunday,time to worship and dinner with friends
           Monday, open for something fun

Alaska airlines to Dallas, leaving Seattle at 1:00 in the afternoon
              with the time change,  dinner in Dallas.
                   
Just as we  were approaching DFW, the announcement came
                          We will be circling Dallas. When the weather permits, we will land.
                               ( we did not know that would be tomorrow )
After an hour of "waiting"  we were told
                          We have been redirected to Austin, we should be there in about 45 minutes.

Arrived in Austin.
Our crew had been on duty since early in the morning, from Anchorage, so they could not fly any more today
No Alaska crew in Austin
Flight to continue in the morning at 8;30
    ( wedding at 10:00, that would not work )
Decision to rent a car.
Both passengers next to Darrell were eager to get to Dallas
     so the four of us headed out.
The driver was from Dallas.  It was dark and many semi's travelling the highway.
   The speed limit is 80  ( yes eighty )  Our driver seemed confidant at 90, 92  ( yes, ninety / ninety two )
Darrell was in the front seat praying we did not get spotted by the police
I was in the back seat praying we would not get in an accident.

Arrived in Dallas
We are not in the airport yet. We need to pay a toll to get into the airport and  parking lot system.
This is a huge,huge airport.
Dropped off driver at his car.
Dropped off second passenger
Dropped off rental car
Picked up our rental car
Drove to our hotel
Hot bath.
3:15 good night.

Good morning...beautiful day for a wedding .

amazing evening .

start to finish. 

   Finding a parking place was a great start

   

          Just  as you walk through the front doors

                               

                    the ambiance .

                       .well it is dark. 

                          and lots of candles

  So dark, they give you little flash lights so  you can read the menus
 When I asked our waiter how many flashlights they replace in a night, he said he gives one to the children... and if you want to slip one into your purse... ( you never know when you might need a little black flashlight  )   

After a bit you get used to the dim lighting, but just to be sure you walk in safety when you need to go the ladies room
           
                     a handsome gaucho takes your arm and leads you around the corner with a smile.

Yes, I needed to make a visit myself and my hubby said to wait until I spotted a gaucho to assist me.  But, I thought it better not to wait and just as I approached the little ramp heading in that direction, along came a very cute gaucho and took my arm.  
 Pretty sure that is why my hubby took my arm when it was time to leave. 

Our waiter was great. I mean really great. For one thing, he is a coffee drinker, so he was very prompt refreshing my coffee with the hottest brew.   He also shared information on some of the recipes. He is after all, a chef himself.   So why is he serving tables?   We do not know, but we are glad. Such service.

Warm garlic bread and  great house salad

Mini filet mignon with the most wonderful sauce. 

           Mine:    Chocolate ganache with salted praline ice cream
                                 His:  Bailey's bread pudding   
The final course and yes, I need a new camera 

And here he is.  The extra touch that made our experience so great.  His name is Mok  ( and do not mock me, he said with a smile )  He was eager to explain any details on the menu and even shared some cooking ideas ( he is a chef, remember )   He also suggested a couple things we should order on our next visit, and we could ask for him,  Mok, and do not mock me, he said with another smile.

So the dinner hour was over.  Hubby took my arm and we left through the silver double doors.

We were right behind  three ladies I had noticed earlier.  Noticed because they were dressed very "boldly". 
 One in particular was a little wobbly.
 She was tall, in pretty tight white pants and pretty tall heels and pretty soon....she stumbled.
 Right in front of us and right off the curb onto her side.
" I'm alright" she said. But she was not able to get up and my hubby and one of her friends pulled her back on to her feet.  
   ( sorry no photo..very sorry ) 

It was a great evening. Still smiling.

an evening to remember

though this is not the first time
         each time is just as exciting

before we go there is preparation...

We won't say who helped the guys get dressed

   


   but some things need a helping hand....

  and then there is  the place 

  and staff that welcomes you like old friends   ( did he really remember me from last year ?)

                                        A favorite display

and of course  the people 

                                          Our Birthday Girl                                    Aunt Pat

                                                   with

                                                       Her four daughters

                                    Three of us favored cousins

                                 grand daughters and grand in laws 

                                                                 two cousins

                                Sisters in law 
                           Jessica and Kathleen 

       

                                                      Fred and Carole

                                                Barb and Rog

                                                       Gus and Mel 

          good thing my daughter told me to wear pumps
         all the young girls were wearing them too

                                                      Then comes the food

        Crab cakes, grilled onion tarts, shrimp delights

                                                             Party favors

                                                     Perfect settings 

                                         

                                               Seafood bisque and  salad 

                                                                    Popovers 

                                  I chose beef, 

                             he chose fish.                                              both were amazing

The presentation and singing begin    

¸.•*¨*•♫♪.... ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸Happy Birthday to You¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪.... ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸Happy Birthday to You¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪....¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸Happy Birthday Dear  Aunt Pat ,     ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪.... ♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸Happy Birthday to You¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪

a closer look:

  

           Three layer cake made by Melissa ...YUM !

 
 After the party's over,  there are still fun times.

           Melissa, Kathy, Barb, Betsy, Nancy 

 Treats to take home  Tulip   Bouquet plus darling M & M's

Thanks to our hostess with the mostess, Nancy :) 
  and to the whole family, for a lovely tribute
               to our very special  Aunt Pat !

Honor your father and your mother as the Lord has commanded that you may live long.
Deuteronomy 5:16  

The Things we do for our kids...and a good cause

Wearing your pj's to the bowling alley
           watching your kids bowl to help foster kids 

                  The starting line up...

             Mom and cutie pie

              Grandpa with Cutie Pie

                   Uncle and Cutie pie

                  Cutie Pie at the wheel with Grammy. Spent about 20 minutes and didn't spend a penny.  The picture kept changing and he was content

 The Final Score !

   Ticket from at least 3 teams of 4 players = just enough tokens for              one 300 point prize

           Let's all go to the Dairy Queen in our PJ's !

The things we do for our kids

eating Blizzards and french fries.

a simple meal and a feast

She is Swedish
She loves blue
She loves Jesus

We were invited for a simple dinner
                      

(

I do not call that simple, but I'll take it   

It was delicious. 

then we were off to a great old fashion Hymn Sing

Steel Guitar         and           Hawaiian Guitar
and let me tell you   those guys know how to make the strings sing. 


I live an exciting life                                      

friendship

I could tell by the tone of her voice, soft and a little sad..
       something was not right
   Are you OK?    Well, not really.
What is wrong?   ( I am usually not so abrupt, but I was not thinking )
                            I can't say right now, I will later.

When we got home, there was a message from her, please call me.

And I did.

She began:

My friends were just here to tell me that they had gone to see their son and found him dead. On the kitchen floor. Maybe for 10 hours.  He was 51 years old.

We chatted for a few minutes, but I knew I should go to her and let her talk about it.

The little yellow vase with yellow daisies still looked fresh, so I grabbed it and was on my way.

She was surprised to see me. She knows that we are expecting house guests tomorrow. But at that moment, nothing else was more important to me, than to be there for her.

She told me details of the friends life.
  Somewhere the conversation changed and she was talking about the courtship of her husband.  She was laughing.
 We talked about other things for about an hour and then the family returned.
  She knew they were coming back and I wanted to stay and meet the daughter that I had never met.  Her name is Kathy.

 Very brief introductions. It was their turn to be with our friend.
  So, I started with my friend, very easy to hug. Next, a complete stranger,  Kathy, hugged her and told her I was sorry for her loss.  I felt a strong hug in return and then some tears.  A hug for the others, it seemed the right thing to do.  It was like I could share in their grief for a moment .
 My eyes were a little blurry.

We do not know what a day will bring forth.
Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.
There is time for us to do what we  should do, and it is not always what we might like.