Let me tell you about the pre-Christmas trip to Arkansas and Texas, December 1999 |
I went first to visit Ellene and Russell in Little Rock. This is a real "love story"! These high school sweethearts reunited six decades later in large part to e-mail. Ellene is my beloved step mom. |
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Ellene and I took a trip to Hot Springs where we visited the Majestic Hotel. This is the resort hotel where my Dad was manager when I was a kid. Ellene was working here when we first met. The grand old hotel was looking quite splendid following a recent renovation and on this occasion, the main lobby featured a gorgeous display of poinsettias. |
While I was in LIttle Rock, I rediscovered two friends from high school
who live and work in that city. Becky and I had a lot to talk about - we
were Girl Scouts together (in two troops)
for eleven years. Pearce and I used to talk on the phone all the time when
we were teenagers. We shared a common interest in sports cars. We last
saw each other about 35 years ago.
Becky |
Pearce |
an old barn on the drive to Lake Kiowa |
My sister Carmen gave me a warm welcome and clothes to wear - we went to nearby Gainesville to raid the thrift shop for more. |
While I was in Dallas I stayed
with my friend Jacque who had just ended her teaching at St.
Marks for the fall semester. We were in grad school at the Dallas
Theatre Centre together in the early 70's. She took me along to an
annual Creole/Cajun
style brunch complete with jazz band. It was sunny and warm and we sat
out by the pool eating and drinking with a few of her friends having a
fine old time.
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a Dixieland jazz band |
One evening at Jacque's, our friends Paul and Michael came for dinner.
Another evening I went to their place.
in Jacque's living room |
 
Paul and Michael |
While I was in Dallas I went to visit a few friends from my years in
Dallas. I went to see Anne and Alan Bromberg. Anne was my favourite professor
at the Dallas Theatre Centre She is now Curator of
Ancient and South Asian Art, Dallas Museum
of Art. I had lunch with Pat and Shea; Pat and I were great friends
and classmates at DTC.
Alan and Anne |
Shea and Pat |
I spent a day with my friend Ashley
and he was decorating the huge sanctuary in his church/home. Every year,
he hosts the annual Fizziwig's Christmas Eve party. One of the things
we did was put this face of John Malkovitch (the movie "Being
John Malkovich" was playing locally) on one of Ashley's paintings in
progress.
Ashley Bellamy, artist extraordinaire |
a visual prank for the party |
These have been a few of the highlights of my sentimental journey home
after many many years. I hope you have enjoyed the story and the trip.
Even though you won't know the folks - you know me better for having gone
along with me as I remember. In closing, here are a couple of shots
of nature, one of nandina
berries, always bright and cheerful in cool weather and the graceful trunk
of a large crepe
myrtle that was in Jacque's front yard. Again, happy holidays - peace
and goodwill to all. Selia (December 2000)
nandina berries |
crepe myrtle |