The road is long and the drive is hard but we made Amarillo by morning. It was our extended weekend getaway as we drove to the West Texas town that played such a big part of our lives and that of our young daughters. Amarillo was home from 1979-1985. Lindsey (#4) was born a true Texas cowgirl giving us four daughters born in three states. Trace got his wings in Amarillo when he was left stranded there by his parent company back in Eugene, Oregon, when they went bankrupt. The city adopted him and the company he was running, and it became a turning point in his professional life at the ripe age of 32. His career seemed to skyrocket from there as he became involved in national politics and ambulance industry issues.
I just couldn't wrap my mind around the notion of flat landscape, having grown up in the Rockies. But think how much the pioneers would have loved walking across the plains instead of up the mountains.
We went hiking in Palo Duro Canyon and reminisced about the many horse rides, marathons and viewings of the outdoor musical play Texas. The play is set in the beautiful bottom of the canyon with the red walls rising behind as the backdrop.
Our friends, Jeff and Nikki Baird, hosted a wonderful prime rib dinner on Sunday night. We are so delighted that they have purchased a second home in Liberty where we will be able to see them more often. It was so heart warming to see old friends and still feel the same love for them and from them that was built on our experiences of more than 25 years ago. They were such a big part of our life at a time when we came into our own as a family unit.
Nancy Ormson gave us a tour through her newly remodeled kitchen. She and her husband, Kerry, starred in a home video with us, 25 years ago, called Spiller, a spoof on Michael Jackson's Thriller. They showed it on Sunday night and the laughter still rings in my head. Oh, to be young and immune to self-deprecation!
Kerry will be traveling to Liberty this summer to play the role of Brigham Young in Trace's Battalion--Musical production on June 26th and 27th.
These are the two homes we owned in Amarillo, The first one has had a face lift.
And this one needs yet another face lift.
We got together our first night for wolleyball at Gold's Gym, which is a tradition from years past, then went out to eat.
And this one needs yet another face lift.
Nikki serving up her very famous apple pie.
We got together our first night for wolleyball at Gold's Gym, which is a tradition from years past, then went out to eat.
The friends we made from those 6 years of living in Texas can never be replaced or forgotten. We have stayed closest to John and Judy Massey. John was our bishop when we arrived there. They have traveled to see us in Mesa, Portland, Liberty and we have met in New York City.
6 comments:
What fun! That explains why you haven't answered my e-mail. Not all the pictures loaded for me! It drives me crazy. I could see Floyd, but not Harmony. Memories! I want to see Spiller again! I had forgotten about that. And Palo Duro. How pretty. I sometimes dream that Ryan and I are moving there. Strange. That's great that you have friends all over the place.
I too have many fond memories of Amarillo. Two boyfriends, an internship, celebrating my 19th BD, horseback riding, tending the girls while you worked- (is that a real memory?) Floyd looks like a completely different house than my memory of it- how fun that you have kept in touch with many friends, and that you can pick right up where you left off. I feel the same way abt our Mesa friends, and always will.
Wow, that landscape leaves much to be desired. The new brick really does look nice. That was a very haunting backyard. Pool filled with cement, dog buried right next to it, snail tracks all around that pond and me getting stung by wasps near that awning in back of your bedroom. Remember that teeny tiny master bath room? I recognized about 1/2 of the Amarillo crew. Why are they still living there? That's what people will be saying about us....and we'll still be in this same house!
Not all the pictures load for me either, but if you click on the box the image will appear. Let Jamie know.
How fun! I love the Ormoson's home. I also love that you played walleyball, what a fun date night. I'm looking forward to my visit there in a few years :)
How fun! That's so cool that three out of your four daughters were born in different states. I had no idea.
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