Austin, TX

September 11, 2010

Logged in to see photos commemorating the 9th anniversary of the terrorists attacks. I don't mean to ignore or demean the loss of all of those lives, of the change of culture our nation experienced and continues to, but I do not need to return to the feelings I had. The selfish ones of a mother of a young man. I have to take stock of the fact that my fears were not realized, but so many mothers do not know that relief. How do we view those countries whose day-to-day lives are filled with many such acts of terror? We had planned to visit the site of the Pennsylvania plane crash when we turned for home. I hope we get back to see it. To pay respect to them and to all the other lives that changed on that day 9 year ago.

On a lighter note, we toured Austin last night on a quest for an "old Austin" place to eat. We drove Lamar from Rundburgh Lane to Manchaca Rd., a long, slow drive at 5:30. We saw a few recognizable places, but mainly we saw change. This is not the same town that we loved in the late '60's and early '70's and of course it is very different from the Austin my parents moved to as newly-wed students in 1949. But I'm guessing that the new students of 2010 look with the same eyes as previous generations.

Among the most noteworthy new-Austin sights: a metro train(Austin shouldn't be big enough to need this), a new pedestrian only bridge across the Colorado(very good!), an Organic Mattress Store (didn't know we needed one), frisbee golf at Pease Park. Most of the fast food places that we frequented are long gone and the ones still here are sporting unfamiliar names, which I guess means they are still locally owned, a good thing. Of course all the national chains are represented. We spotted Threadgills fairly early, "too early," said Russell. Two hours later, I was pretty hungry and suggested Threadgills, "Too late, it'll be packed!" So the Black-Eyed Pea looked good and uncrowded. It probably fit our profile better than Threadgills does anyway!