3am...Saturday...the alarm went off...time to begin a journey of unknown proportions or outcomes, from several directions. Headed into Houston on the first flight out of DIA @ 6am. Some how the "travel gods were generous" and I got a fare for only $138 round trip.
There is a deep soulish sense that this trip is going to have interesting moments...not knowing what...both personally and corporately. But...convinced it is one I'm supposed to be taking at this moment in time.
Me in 8F...a man in 8D...turns out we know several good people in Denver and elsewhere. Both of us live in the south part of the Denver metroplex...are now Facebook friends...and will, hopefully, spend some future time together.
Lively conversation all the way down...surprised us both. He was heading "home to Texas", though living in Denver, to celebrate his wife's birthday with family and other good friends (she works for Continental...so lucky them on company travel!).
Just about the time we mentioned the fires in Texas, I looked out the window, and here's what we saw from who knows how many feet up...as we were beginning the descent into "hotter than _ _ _ _ " Houston.
After lunch with a friend in the Woodlands, north of Houston, I began the drive west to Austin through truly severely parched lands to have the weekend with our daughter. I've really looked forward to the time with her since I knew I'd "won" a spot in a specialized conference down here for next week. Austin is a crazy, amazing town...and moments with her, any time, anwhere, are treasured. Speaking like a Dad, we just don't have enough of them.
OK...I "sinned" driving and taking pics on my iPhone. But this was the scene as I approached Magnolia, TX heading west from the north part of Houston. Mmmmmmmmmmm.......
In a few miles, the traffic was diverted...twice. One time we came to a complete standstill slightly west of Magnolia...stuck in a quick gridlock as fire trucks and cop/constable vans, pickups pulling horse trailers and cars whirled past. The parking lot you see in the next pic was completely jammed in minutes with frantic people jumping out of their cars, running up to the blockade, waving arms and cell phones. It felt like I was in the middle of a bad grade B movie or a weird dream! A plethora of thoughts surged through my soul as I watched the building scenario.
At one point (I know this isn't humorous when your land/home is burning), but it almost looked like a caper with the Keystone Cops, as a huge fire truck turned a wrong direction and then got stuck turning around on a small country road further blocking traffic until Superman flew in, picked up the truck and got it headed in the right direction.
OK...so Superman didn't show up...I just want to know if you've really read this far. But the truck did turn the wrong way...and get stuck. Further weirdness....... Where's Superman when you need him?!?!?
I sat in my rental car listening to olde John Denver tunes..watching...wondering when I could get going again before the town of Magnolia got toasted. To my right several bursts of black smoke shot into the air...ever closer...it seemed.
Finally...five-plus hours after leaving Houston I pulled into our daughter's neighborhood. Mighty glad to be here. We did a South Congress crepe "trailer meal" for dinner (not the one you told me about Tyler...we're saving that one for Sunday). She went out with some friends. I plowed into bed...a pooped Pop.
Now...this is being written and posted early Saturday afternoon. But...I won't get into what's already taken place this morning...like, whoa!...until the rest of this day plays out. But I will say a large flow of adreneline got poured into my system that has taken until about right now...1:53pm...to ooze away. Such is crazy, amazing Austin...........! :-)
...the adventures of the SepTexasTour'11 continues...
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