Texas Round-up ~ Part 3 ~ Dallas/Fort Worth

November 6~ 9

Stopping at the Wildflower Center causes us to have to drive after dark....we hate that in this thing.  Finally arrive in Arlington, TX at another of the Carefree Resorts, this one called Treetops (carefreervresorts.com).  While these are far from fancy, we've learned they are well-cared for and staffed with very friendly and helpful people.  This location has six "Presidential Sites" that are far from that but are very spacious, with a patio and a little garden.  The best part is there is no one next to you in these sites.

In the literature they give us, we read about the Fort Worth Stockyards (fortworthstockyards.org) which sounds like a hoot.  Head there the next morning and enter a time warp!  Looks like an old West town with everyone fully decked out....but the stores are selling $10,000 boots and saddles....bikers are on the curb....there is obviously no open container laws.....and they are going to have a cattle drive down the main street.

It's not exactly Pamplona...these bulls kind of amble....but it's fun and we talk for "a good piece" to one of the cowboys who's name is Kiltie Oglee...he says he has a "bit of the Irish in him" which is no surprise.  He tells us of his childhood in rural Texas raised by a moonshining family.  When the product of choice switched to marijuan, Kiltie's father wasn't comfortable with that and moved to Fort Worth.  He tells us he's just had a granddaughter and exclaims "I found a piece of my heart, I didn't know was there".  How beautiful is that!

We pack as much of Dallas as we possibly can the next day.  First stop, the Cowboys new stadium....(yes, Ian, we just might have picked up a few things for you from your favorite team). The stadium is huge and pretty good looking...guess that's what over a billion dollars buys these days.

We need to see the Book Depository and walk around the area of the Kennedy assasination.  It seems so undistinguished and being there I feel removed from what shook our world in 1963.  There's a sign on the grassy knoll that simply cannot be an official marker.  It diminishes the solemnity of the site...I wish someone would take it down.

The Texas Book Despository (jfk.org) is now a civic administrative building except for the sixth floor museum.  The window on the far right of the next to top floor is where Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots.

There's not much in the way of landmarks or memorials.  A faded "X" marks the spot in the street.  One rather odd sculpture by Philip Johnson commerates the President.

Rick reads about another Cattle Drive....a large bronze sculpture installation in Pioneer Plaza is the biggest bronze sculpture of its type in the world, or so they say.  Don't know what classifies as it's "type",  since this is of 50 head of cattle and three cowboys herding them across the park.  Probably not too many like that. It 's really very cool!

We're having dinner at the home of a good friend of mine from New York and on the way stop at the Nasher Sculpture Center (nashersculpturecenter.org).  This new outdoor oasis is opposite the Dallas Art Museum and is small, but extremely tranquil.  Though I think the $10 per head charge is pretty high, we enjoy it greatly.  Founder, Raymond Nasher, intends it to become an international focal point for the appreciation of modern sculpture.

"Walking to the Sky" was inspired by the artist's memories of a childhood story about a giant who lived in the sky. It's 100 feet high and is at a 75 degree angle.

On to see Bliss and Pelham and their children.  So great to catch up with them.  Unfortunately their son is not feeling well, but 7-year-old, Coryell, is a delightful hostess who proudly produces original works of art for our refrigerator.

The next three days are going to be dreary.  We will deadhead the 900+ miles through Kansas and Colorado to Boulder to visit Rick's Dad, brother and sister-in-law.  Can't wait to see them, but wish we had a transporter to get us there!