Why We Came to Texas

Why We Came to Texas
(or how our lives are changing)

The furniture, books, clothes, books, gardening implements and books came on Friday after Thanksgiving. With five men unloading the truck (and in a hurry to leave) most everything got dumped into the garage. Chaos does not begin to describe the scene. On Saturday morning, however, the priority was Christmas trees, not unpacking. A showed up bright and early with M, K, and S in tow, along with M and V, K’s parents. They all headed off to Santa land to cut down trees; I stayed behind for Larry the Cable Guy (thus, no pictures of our first big family outing in Texas.) A, however, has 67 shots on his digital camera which he would be delighted to share with anyone who is interested.

Sunday was the family dinner E had been waiting for—Sunday dinner at the folks’ house. There were still a lot of boxes around, but N fixed up a pot roast dinner with a home-made apple pie that brought tears to E’s eyes. We got to do some serious unpacking on Monday and Tuesday before we were called into major grandparenting—presence at G’s school for the Feast of St. Andrew. K already had a doctor’s appointment for the baby and E coud not get off from work. Mimi and Bumpa to the rescue! And what a delight for us. This school knows how to do a patronal feast, from the bagpipers who piped in the liturgical procession to the bishop suffragan who celebrated the eucharist. The event was a wonderful reminder of St. Andrew’s celebrations back in Kansas City, but made even better by the participation of all the musicians in the school, with selections from African American spirituals to songs of praise to C.P.E. Bach (!) and even a selection from Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.” Can you say eclectic?

After the service we joined up with G and E for lunch on the school grounds. What a celebration indeed, as we were serenaded during lunch by the school jazz ensemble alternating with the school drum band and the school rock combo. Did I mention eclectic? Yes, this is why we made the southwest migration—to be a part of fun activities like tree cutting (an old family tradition) and school activities. Unpacking can wait a while!