Elizabeth’s Journal

Brief Report on Trip to Houston

Just wanted to say that Jonathan and I had an absolutely wonderful time on our trip to Houston these last four days. We met John and Kathleen at the finish line of the MS150 and transported them back to Houston, illegally drinking beer in my car along the way (not me, of course, just the exhausted/exhilarated passengers). Jonathan was most pleased to play the chocolate-covered raisin game upon arriving at the house, and he was tickled beyond words to see the object of his adoration, known to the rest of us as Courtney. She got him ready for bed every night we were there—dressed in pajamas, brushed his teeth, and took him up to bed. And he went right to sleep too! She must work some kind of magic on him . . .

On Monday Jonathan and I went to the Downtown Aquarium, although we did have about a 20-minute detour while I tried to figure out how to get to the damn place. It was a bit of an adventure and I did end up watching it recede in my rear-view mirror for a while as I tried to turn around, but I got there in the end and Jonathan was proud of me for doing so. Among other things, Jonathan got scared by bullfrog noises, loved the train ride and Ferris wheel, and was accompanied by his mummy on his first carousel ride, which was a hit (he sat on a sea horse). He also got an octopus tattoo on his forearm. In the evening auntie Margaret came over to see us.

Tuesday we had lunch with my longtime friend Amanda (Mims) Campbell, which was great. I hadn’t laid eyes on her in nearly three years! Hard to believe the time goes so fast. She looked great, and Jonathan was a doll to let us chat so long—he was very sweet. Later in the afternoon, back at Kathleen & John’s house, out of the blue he came out with, “I love Amanda! I love her wearing those sunglasses!” He sure does like the ladies, that boy. Even though we hadn’t physically seen each other for so long, knowing each other from birth sure does make that distance disappear. I always feel like she knows everything about me without my even having to say it. Very nice to have a friend like that.

Jonathan and I also visited the Houston Central Market and picked up dinner for the household—salad with red-tip and butter lettuce, baby spinach, carrots, sparkler radishes, and vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, followed by bbq chicken pizza. Margaret came over again and brought lots of leftovers (beef tenderloin, rice from Eatzi’s, and salad), and Tim, Felicia, and Catherine came too to see the little guy. It was quite hectic but wonderful to see everyone, and I certainly appreciated people coming over on a week night. Catherine brought me one of the pictures that she and Tim had taken of her for Felicia’s recent birthday, and it’s a lovely picture—it’s already up on my desk.

I tell you what—I do not see how people live in Houston. The traffic is just appalling, particularly on the Katy Freeway (I-10), which is where I spent most of my time. Accidents tie up the roads for ages, at all times of the day—there’s no such thing as rush hour because it’s happening all day long. Made me wonder what London would be like if there were no Underground—would it be like Houston? If it weren’t so late, I’d try to find out how the population compares. Perhaps an eager commenter will do so . . .