When Life Gives You Lemons…
Because of Andrew’s injury our family has been doing a lot of driving to San Antonio, Texas. During our hospital stay, we saw nothing of the city except the interstate that took us home. On our next trip, my husband, Andrew, and I woke up at 4:00 am in order to make our appointment. We stopped in Seguin, TX to eat lunch on the way home. On our third trip since the accident, my dad and step-mom treated our family to a night in San Antonio.
The Historic Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.
The city has such a rich history. The Alamo and other missions are places all Texans should visit. The Riverwalk with its charming shops and restaurants is fun to see either on foot or by a tour guided boat ride. The Spanish and German influences of past settlers intermingle creating a rich cultural environment. The Marketplace (El Mercado) is home to the excellent restaurant, Mi Tierra. Inside are strolling musicians seeking to serenade your family while you dine on Tex-Mex or authentic Mexican dishes. The plaza is filled with different shops usually selling imported goods from Mexico. In short, San Antonio is a fun destination.
Our visit to the Alamo has sparked an interest in my children, especially Kyla, to study Texas History. We have watched several movies, documentaries, and read several books on the subject. As with anything I study, I like to try and imagine myself at that time in history. Everyone was homesteading. That was the norm. Texas was a wild frontier. Families with true adventure in their hearts crossed the border out of the United States and into a Mexican territory. I admire that kind of gumption and courage.
Three Texas Heroes: Bowie, Crockett, and Travis.
While at the Alamo, we saw the water well that supplied the mission/fort with fresh drinking water. We have a water well too, but our water is pumped by electric power into our house via pipes. We go through a lot of water in a day. I cannot imagine how much of my precious time would be consumed with this essential chore. We also saw the flags of the states from which men that fought and died came. As long a drive as we have, it is nothing like the wagon ride or horseback ride or walk that these men and their families endured.
I might be a homesteader in the year 2009, but I am still a long way from the life of the 1836 Texan. It is not so much that I long for the hardships of the past. I don’t. I enjoy the fact that if my garden fails I can still go the local grocery store. I also enjoy using a cell phone and computer. What I long for is the seemingly simpler life. Yes, it was hard. But at the same time, it was not filled with so many distractions. Families worked together for a common goal: survival.
Regardless of how you feel about homesteading in the past, present, or future, I hope that you will take time to learn about the history of your area. It will be fascinating to learn about the people and places that help bring you to where you are today. We took the lemon of the accident and turned it into lemonade as we explored the city of San Antonio. We gained great pictures, memories, knowledge of history, and a respect for the people in this land before it was the republic or state of Texas. How sweet the lemonade!
