~A Texas Story~

There was a comment the other day from Tex. I have no idea who it is but..well it was really nice to read a comment from someone new... But seeing Tex, made me think of the years I spent in Houston and Pasadena, well in between them a while in Galena Park outside of Pasadena...by Jacinto City. Texas was good to me . I arrived in Houston via a semi.. I rode that all the way there from Jackson, MS... a day or so after I got there in 71, it snowed, and it hadnt in years. I thought it was Texas's way of welcoming me there :-) The photos of Sid and I how we looked back then.. Those were our 2 dogs..The white one is Brandy and the shepherd was Silver Belle... :-) After I had hurriedly left PA I made it to Jackson, it was not for me, I travelled on to Houston.. Riding the whole way in a semi.. I had lost everything I had no reason to stay ..When I got to Houston I had a place to live, and even a job.Was working in a pool hall and part time at a beer bar downtown.. I met a merchant seaman out of Morgan City, LA. We hit if off quite well and got an apartment up on North Main street, Sid got a job at the motel down the street where I helped him at times.. It was there I met my 2nd husband,Willie. Later after Sid had enough of land living he went back to the oil rig supply boats.. Sid was a heavy drinker, as the time went on the fights started, I didn't drink and when he did our personality's'] clashed horribly.. Sids nick name for me was SHOTS. He said it was because I had such a bad temper and would go off like a SHOT.. :-) There were many good times, when Sid fished he didn't drink, needless to say I was glad I enjoyed it too and I made sure we went EVERY weekend.. but who wouldn't rather sit on the side of the gulf of Mexico enjoying the warm sun, fishing, to sitting in a stinky smelly bar.. ME for ONE!! :-) give me fishin ANYDAY.. :-) I gradually improved from tending bar to being the assistant to the owner of a crating company. From there to a Marketing Support Specialist, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I made excellent money ,one of the best things about being there was Galveston.. I loved that town...We made that drive every Friday nite till Sunday nite and stayed in our car and fished till we just had no choice but to go home.. We had gone one weekend.. was cold cold.. I just had all the cold I could stand and was tired, I told Sid I had to go back to the car and take a nap but I would be back.. Sid said " I'm getting some bites and I will be there in a minute to warm up the car for you.." I walked over to the car, climbed into the back of our Malibu and fell right to sleep. I remember faintly hearing the car start up and the next thing I knew I felt Sid slapping me.. screaming at me "LOIS! GET OUT OF THE CAR!!" I jumped up and hurriedly climbed out of the car, I looked at Sid, with a fire extinguisher putting out a massive fire that was started from him pumping the gas.. I jumped back into the car and took it out of gear, and 2 men came running to help and pushed the car back from between the two on each side.. Sid desperately spraying that white stuff all over it... He got the flames out..we stood and looked at the motor .. All the wires and anything and everything plastic was gone... Was horrible... I was ready to cry.. what a mess.. and we had to clean it.. I did CRY then !! ;-) This was midnite or so..on a Saturday nite..we were out on the jettys off Galveston. come Sunday we had to find someone to take Sid to a auto parts so we could replace the spark plug wires and some of the belts that had burnt.. Sid worked all day Sunday and finally got the car to crank up.. We knew we had to get back to Houston, and we didn't dare risk getting stuck on the ferry going back thru Galveston then back over the massive bridge. We took the land way we went down Interstate 10. What a trip. I don't think I prayed that hard since the day with the boat.. My times with Sid let me tell you were truly memorable.. I wish I knew where he was now.. We could think back and just laugh at some of the things we did.. Going down interstate 10 during all the traffic on a late Sunday afternoon was maddening.. The car would run for a while then cough sputter puke and stall...We would have no choice but to sit and wait for a few minutes before Sid tried to restart that car... We were headed to an over pass..there is NO pull offs on a over pass.. I looked at Sid..hes sweatin.. we stall out on THAT and had to wait for even 2 minutes with the line of bumper to bumper traffic..well we would cause a major traffic jam.. We held our breath as we started across that bridge.. the car hesitated.. I closed my eyes...I felt a lurch.. I cringed I KNEW we wouldn't make it.. I felt a THUD, plunk.. and STOPPED.. I was afraid to open my eyes but I did.. I glanced at Sid ..the sweat was pouring off of this poor guy.. I looked where we were stalled and thank GOD we had made it across.... We went through this ordeal all the way THROUGH Houston.. we got on the 45, and headed to North Main Street and we didn't care if the car stalled or not ..we were within walking distance of our apartment.. I smiled..Sid smiled and would you believe by the time we were 2 blocks from the apartment that car was purrin like a kitten !!!.. TRUE STORY :-) Well Tex HeartThrob, if your reading again.. This ones for you.. I wont tell you about a cowboys belt buckle ..:-) and what they mean :-D.. anyway. Texas is a great state. Wonderful people and I still hope I have some dear friends there.. Jo & Tracy, Nanny, Brother Andy, some lovely lovely people.. be nice to see them again. Anyway thanks Tex you made me remember some good times.. So now my day is done and as the cowboys do. I'm gonna roll off into the sunset- first my GORGEOUS WEEBLE "nitey nite" Y'all have a good one now Y'hear? love ya and thanks :-) Always, Lois **** God Bless You, is my prayer today, I'm so honored to call you "friend" I pray the Lord will keep you safe, until I write again .....