It's wedding anniversary time again. We're* retreating to a lovely little yellow beachhouse down on Boliver. I have a special talent for planning vacations and having one of two things happen. First, it usually rains. I swear. My husband and I got rained on in Death Valley. Twice. Second, if it doesn't rain (and sometimes even if it does) SOMETHING happens to be happening wherever we're going and I usually don't find out about it until I've already put down a non-refundable deposit. Often the something isn't a whole hell of a big deal for example, planning to go to Anahuac the same weekend as GatorFest.
But sometimes, just sometimes (thank all deities), the thing that is happening happens to include an estimated 300,000 yes THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND people riding HAWGS. Yes. I booked a romantic four day vacation on the Texas Gulf Coast for the same weekend that the Lone Star Rally will literally ROAR into town. And by town, I mean Galveston, Texas (the birth place of Barry White).
Galveston (the island) is on average about two miles wide and about 32 miles long. It's normal population is about 60,000. This weekend it will be 360,000. This might be poetic since the city of Galveston was second only to Ellis Island for the number of immigrants processed durring the whole Neil Diamond Coming to America thing. But you know what? They didn't come on motorcycles with glass packs.
This is a quote from the website of one of the vendors from last year in reference to their white palm cowboy hats:
Tighten the Stampede Strap & it's a Texas motorcycle helmet.
It's the toughest, most resilient hat known to the American Cowboy! You can crush it, twist it and mash it into your saddlebag - then wet it, shape it and wear it dancin', to the gala, to the cook off -
Hell, wear it to bed - It's a kick ass hat!
Three observations:
1. MOTORCYLE HELMET?
2. Honest to GOD people here really do wear cowboy hats to galas. But they're usually black. That hats, not the people. Not that black people don't go to galas. They do. And even THEY sometimes wear cowboy hats. Also black.
3. I am sad to say I did once know a man who wore his hat to bed. And not to be sexy, either. Because it can be. Sometimes.
* "We're" usually includes the Black Dog but this time he's being lovingly cared for at home. He loves it when his aunt comes to dog sit. He's too neurotic to kennel.Labels: husband, texas, vacation |
i marvel at how many americas there are in the one. johnnie edwards has it all wrong with his 2 americas. i can't even grawsp what 300k bikers feels like,
happy anniversary!