Today, while Maddi and Gene went to a doctor's appointment, I went wandering around Houston looking for its essence. I spent two hours in Starbucks, two hours in a huge western gear store, and two hours hiking a trail I'd discovered a week ago and had wanted to explore a little more.
To get from Maddi’s
to Starbucks
I cross a three-lane
feeder road
Walk under the eight
lanes of freeway
And cross three more
feeder lanes.
Cars whizz by
Stressing my senses
And I realize why
I am the only
pedestrian
It's dangerous!
Once inside and settled,
I sip my cup of dark roast coffee
And marvel at the
orders
Being placed
And the prices of
skinny lattés with five pumps
Or cappuccinos... hold
the foam
Etc etc
I scan the business types
who wait:
Houston oil folks
George W Republicans
No tattoos,
No facial piercings
No gothic hair or
edgy hairdos
No bike rider shoes
or helmets
Or Patagonia casual
business types
Women wear pearls and real gold
And spiked heels
And tight black
skirts
And the men are in
suits
Ties and jackets
They drive
spotlessly clean white or black Cadillacs or BMW's
Ford trucks with extended cabs
Cars matter here
And so do appearances
And so do appearances
They all look like GQ models
Golfers, lawyers, business folks
Heading to work.
Once I'd completed my study of Starbucks clientele, I headed down Kati Feeder Road...three lanes going south fast! I walk past pieces of strip malls, a shooting range, fast food restaurants, gas stations, and finally come to my destination: Cavender's Western Wear. This place was exactly what I was looking for....a huge store, "biggest one in Houston" filled with boots and belts shirts and jeans buckles and jewelry. Fun!
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| Notice Firearms is at the top |
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| Gas is cheap! |
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| Hot Dog! The Gun Range is now Open! This guy was SCARY looking! |
Finally I found what I was looking for...the heart of Texas! The biggest cowboy gear place in the city.
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| Very Cool Hats! |
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| Gear for Grandkids |
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| CD's |
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| Boots by the Thousands |
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| My Favorite |
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| Second Favorite |
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| My new belt. Too much Texas for Portland? What was I thinking! |
After two hours of wondering at Cavender's, I headed back across I-10, meandered through a neighborhood and found the trail home. People here keep their shades closed all day long! I've noticed this every time I go for a walk! As a Portlander, it's hard to imagine not welcoming the sun into every room of the house as soon as it brightens the day.
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| Closed shades on a sunny day? |
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| I don't get it! |
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| The Trail Back "Home" |
Thanks for this view into your Texas experience.
ReplyDeletePortland will feel so comfortable to return to.
Loved the sound track.
I was able to play it while viewing blog.
It's not hard to explain the closed shades. In the summer in the south you have to close the shades to survive the heat - probably they just get used to it in and don't change in winter time, or they want to keep the heat in if they are not home.
ReplyDeleteThis was fun to read!
I can't believe you bought that belt! Have you worn it in Portland? I liked the poem very much and the descriptions and impressions of that place. What a relief it must be to get back to Portland's weirdness. I keep hoping that some day Texas and the other very southern states will secede and form their own country. But it's not likely to happen.
ReplyDeleteGood writing, keep it up.
Dorothy
This brings back memories of how rich your observing (and acquiring!) eye was back when you lived in Ft. Worth for a year.
ReplyDeleteYou are a terrific observer of the scene.
Sun's out. I'm going to open my shades and windows right now!