Opinion

The countdown is on! Mommas, teachers, and students everywhere are counting down the days – less than 50 school days left until Summer Vacation 2022! There are times when it feels like the school year just started. “What do you mean you need more jeans?! We just bought new school clothes not that long ago!” There are times when it feels like the school year will never end.

Steve, the cowboy on the board of directors of the Mule Barn truck stop’s philosophy counter and world dilemma think tank, swears on his coffee it happened. “Tourist guy got off the train the other day when I was in the city picking up a friend,” Steve said.

So, my kids are mad at me this week because we didn’t go anywhere for Spring Break. Never mind the fact that we went bowling and to lunch, to see the new Batman movie, fishing, and on a day trip to Galveston. Apparently, it doesn’t count if it doesn’t involve six hours (one way) of car travel and a hotel room/Airbnb.

While the weather in Central Texas may be far from the typical spring warmth, I am sure that won’t prevent anyone from enjoying their time off boating, fishing and hiking. Fortunately, as a Texas Game Warden I am also a Texas Parks and Wildlife employee and happy to connect the community with a myriad of resources to enjoy a safe and fun weekend in the Texas outdoors.

There was something new in the noisy portable commercial that was Windy Wilson’s way of spreading the news around town. “Pardners and pardettes,” came the familiar voice from the Gates of Heaven’s loudspeaker car, “you ever stop and listen to your innermoist partitions when it comes to books? No? Well, doncha think it’s time? A-course it is! And thass perzackly why you should head on over to the good ol’ Read Me Now bookstore.

One of the ideas we’ve been throwing around is to honor Wallis’ long history with the railroads by using a railroad theme for revitalizing the buildings on Commerce Street. If we have to endure the train whistles at all hours, we may as well embrace that part of Wallis’ past.

Last week, two women I know mentioned to me how their perception of their bodies affected their decisions to participate in life. One instance was a young lady who chose to skip prom and the other was a mom who shared that she never joins in the pictures at events.