Going forth

We left off at a vintage shop in Prescott, AZ, “Everybody’s Hometown” (this was posted on the street lamps all around the town). That’s amazing, Arizona. All this time I was thinking I was born in Houston, TX and raised in Portland, OR and it turns out all this time I’ve been mistaken!

We hit the Jiffy Lube in Prescott Valley on our way out of town and hung out in the Safeway Starbucks for two hours while the car was having the time of its life. I only say the car was having the time of its life because I would rather have the human equivalent of my tires rotated than sit at a sticky table in an over-crowded Starway ever again. Or Safebucks? Let’s go with the hybrid theme on this post.

So, ten hours in a car is as far as we could make it without killing each other, but not before I received my first-ever speeding ticket. A rite of passage, as Kasey called it. And not ten minutes before receiving the ticket, I had made mention of how lucky we would be to get stopped so close to Juarez. It’s the most alive I’ve ever felt!

We stayed the night in Van Horn, TX, and left early the next morning for San Antonio where my family would be waiting.

We pulled up to the venue around five and were greeted by my mom and uncle David, who had snagged the table closest to the microphone that Kasey would be singing in to. Not long after, my aunt Lawaine and uncle Bob showed up with another David, my godfather (who will henceforth be referred to as Dewey). Kasey went on at 6, and we all ordered hamburgers branded with “Sam’s” and watched as Kasey entertained a patio full of people and the sun went down behind the venue.

After the show we headed back to Dewey’s house and stayed up a lot later than we should have. We all sat on the back patio of the house and talked about camping trips my parents and aunts and uncles and friends used to take us on when we (my sisters and cousins) were kids. We talked about and listened to Joni Mitchell, ate birdman toast (with nine different seeds in it!) late at night, and opened two of the last bottles of wine Dewey had procured from WTSO.com before Texas banned shipments from this website.

The next morning, we ate blueberry-and-maple-syrup-stuffed sausage, eggs with salsa and toast, and Kasey played guitar with Bob and Dewey before we set out to Houston. Thank you to David and Denise for hosting and feeding us, and thank you to Bob and Lawaine for coming all the way from Victoria to grace us with your presence. It was a true delight to see you all.

Houston was fabulous. We arrived a little after one, stopped briefly at my aunt Ann and uncle Paige’s house and headed straight to the Astros game. They played the Phillies and lost their sixth consecutive game; a record for the Astros during opening week. It was a great game for me though, as we sat behind home plate in the shade and had delicious hot dogs with frozen lemonade. In the middle of summer, according to my mom, the stadium closes the roof and cranks up the AC to make watching (and probably playing) the game bearable. Can you imagine the bill?!

Shortly after a full hour had gone by since eating a hot dog, we were sitting in Luling City Market eating brisket and sausage drenched in BBQ sauce on wonder bread. My mom’s friend Stephanie had joined us from Victoria for this event, and for Kasey’s show that night at The Listening Room at Nia Moves. Soon after finishing dinner and catching Phil Mickelson win the golf tournament, my excitement had distracted me long enough that we left the restaurant without my camera! All was not lost, though, since we went back and retrieved it.

The show was interesting that night, since it was held in a dance studio and three musicians stood on “stage” together and alternated songs. It was interesting as well since it was mostly my family, and we had to take our shoes off. Kasey played with Isaac Hoskins and Chip Robinson that night, in socks. It was a great show. Thank you to Ann and Paige for hosting us, and for providing the audience.

The morning of the 12th, Kasey headed out of town early and my mom and David and I stayed behind to eat (Kolachies and James Coney Island) and shop for beads (my mom is making the jewelry for my sister Devlin’s wedding!). We made it to Austin after four, and Kasey took me to the Hotel San Jose; otherwise known as the coolest hotel ever.

Gravel walkways surrounded by ivy-covered buildings led us to our second story room that overlooked the hotel’s restaurant and pool. What the room looked out on could have mattered less, since the room itself was so cool that all we did was talk about how cool the room was. High ceilings and filled with light, the hotel room was outfitted with modern furniture and offered TOMS for sale right in the room. We ate Mexican food a block away, and played skee ball before watching Kasey play another show with Isaac and Chip. My friend Kate and her boyfriend, who I worked with in Germany, came out to the show and hung out for a little while. It was great to see them!

The next morning, Kasey went out with a friend and my mom and David and I had breakfast together at Magnolia Cafe, where our waitress told us the line usually extends out the door and sometimes people wait an hour and a half just to eat there. After breakfast, we parted ways and headed to Denton. Thank you so much to my mom and David for joining us on this leg of the tour. Your support, flexibility and generosity were appreciated more than I can express.

On the next blog: Dallas, TX; Hot Springs, AR; Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville, TN. Stay tuned for more updates on our eating and shopping adventures.
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