Sister Lonetto's 100th Birthday

Not many times in our lives do we get to participate in a friend's 100th birthday. I had the opportunity and great blessing to attend the 100th birthday of my friend Sister Del Mar Lonetto.  She turned 100 on September 16th. The Relief Socitey and the good people at the Life Center where she lives gave her a wonderful party. There were lots of friends and family there. Cake and punch were served. The R.S. sisters sang some songs and there was a piano solo. While everyone mingled and hugged an accordion player played background music. Buddy accompanied me. Since Buddy always goes with me to visit her, it seemed appropriate that he should go to her party. She smiled when she saw him. He was a very good boy. It was a special experience for me--and Buddy too. Happy Birhtday Del Mar!!!

TEXAS

We went back to our roots in San Antonio but first we made a stop in Dallas (really in Arlington) to watch one of the best football games ever.

BYU played and beat Oklahoma in the brand new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. That is an amazing stadium and the focal point of the whole building is the enormous screen that runs from the 20 yard line to the 20 yard line. You really have to see it in person to appreciate it. We watched the game again when we got home and seeing it on television doesn't do it justice, no matter how large your TV is. The game was great. I am so appreciative of the respect all the OU fans gave us, both before and after the game. To be honest I stood there with my mouth open not believing what I saw. Needless to say there were many OU fans doing the same thing. I could go on forever about our experience here but this blog would be so long I don't even think I would read it all. We were a little blue in a large sea of red and it was a blast. We are saddened that Sam Bradford was injured and we hope he has a speedy recovery and is back playing soon. The Oklahoma fans adore him. Since we lived in Oklahoma for so many years we understand what football means to them.

I've tried to decide how to write about our vacation in San Antonio and have decided to make a list.

PEOPLE WE SAW AND SPENT TIME WITH

1. Spencer and his friend Wendy (Dewey and Spencer started a tradition a few years ago to go to the BYU opening game no matter where it is played).

2. Tommy and Shirley Owens--Dewey's brother and sister-in-law.

3. Tom and Ann Loomis--Dewey's sister and brother -in-law.

4. Kandy Kay Davis--Dewey's sister.

5. Sandy and Guy March--our niece and nephew-in-law.

6. Johnny and Jeannie Fitzpatrick--our nephew and niece-in-law.

7. Ken and Agnes Owens--our cousins (and we don't have a lot of cousins).

8. President Casey Golightly--our Stake President and now a sealer in the temple--we saw him briefly in between sealings--we missed Kitty his wife because she was in a session.


PLACES WE SAW AND EXPERIENCED


1. The parking lot that used to be JoAnn's home.

2. The beautiful San Antonio River Walk that extends past my house and way down the river. We walked about an hour and a half down the river that used to be only weeds. A lock was built and beautiful flowers and greenery planted. It is truly amazing. When Dewey and I were growing up you didn't dare go where we walked in safety and comfort. Very dangerous back in the 50's and 60's.

3. The pool at the El Tropicano Hotel where I used to lifeguard (a half block from my home that is now a parking lot).

4. The house Dewey's dad built on 334 Cosgrove. There were two kids playing basketball in the driveway and after a few minutes of them probably wondering what we were doing we told them Dewey used to live there and his dad built the house. I think they thought we were strange.

5. The Highland High School Band. They just happen to be practicing when we drove past his high school. Remember, Dewey played French Horn in the band and it is because of that he didn't go to Vietnam--that is another story altogether.

6. Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery where our parents are buried. We put flowers on their graves and visited for a while.

7. H.E.B.--a huge and old grocery store chain that is a lot like a Fred Meyer up here in Washington--they are all over the San Antonio area. I believe they have run everyone else out of business--just about.

8. Costco. Need I say more.

9. Del Webb's Hill Country Retreat. This is the area Ann and Johnny live and probably us if we retire in San Antonio.

10. Heavy thunderstorms and lots of Texas style rain, lightning and thunder.

11. The San Antonio Texas Temple. We actually were able to do a session because we were from out of state. We didn't bring our clothes so we thought that wouldn't happen but since we were from out of state they provided the clothes for us. The inside is the most beautiful temple I have ever been in. It is truly a miracle and a blessing for the Saints in Texas and especially the San Antonio area. When I was little there was one very small meetinghouse on the south side of town. Now there is a Temple. It's amazing. It sits high on top of a hill overlooking the city in a beautiful location.

12. San Antonio College and it's swimming pool and bookstore. This was the only disappointing part because we didn't recognize much of the campus that we spent time going to school at. Everything was remodeled or changed around and only a few buildings looked familiar. And it was a little uncared for--BYU really spoils us.

13. The beautiful Mansion that Claire Whiting lived in and Dewey spent time visiting while attending San Antonio College back in the 60's.

14. Lily Mae Saenger's house--so happy a family is living there now again. After Lily Mae died I think a few offices bought the place.

15. Drove by and took pictures of the Dallas Texas Temple.

16. The Ballpark at Arlington (where the Texas Rangers play).

17. Flooding of the I35 highway we were on going back to Dallas to catch the plane (we barely made it--we were the in farthest lane--actually the shoulder lane--with water coming half way up our wheels--another 10 minutes and the lane would have been entirely underwater and impassable).

18. Stranded in the airplane without being able to take off for an hour because of level 4 and 5 thunderstorm cells that were overhead. Plane was swaying back and forth on the ground.

19. Our Timber Trace house. Still looks pretty good. If we would have kept it it would be paid off by now. That would be nice.

20.  Tommy and Shirley's beautiful home in the country, where donkey's woke us up and birds of every kind flittered about.

ANIMALS WE SPENT TIME WITH

1. Ken's 10 deer.

2. Chessy--Tommy and Shirley's Golden Retriever.

3. Fluffy--Tommy and Shirley's cat.

4. Tucker, Lady and Charlie--Tommy and Shirley's three donkeys.

5. Bonnie--Ann and Tom's (that used to be Sandy's) West Highland Terrier.

6. Oreo--Tom and Ann's cat.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE FOOD WE ATE

1. Pancho's Mexican Food buffet in Arlington (Spencer really wanted his Sopapias that he remembers from his childhood).

2. Whataburger near our hotel in Farmer's Branch (better than we remember them to be--but we were hungry after the game).

3. Aw Shucks in Dallas (the best fried shrimp and shrimp cocktail in the world).

4. Serranos Mexican Food in Austin.

5. Delicious Tamales in San Antonio (the very best tamales in the entire world).

6. La Fondas Mexican food in San Antonio (our all time favorite Mexican food).

7. Huisache Grill in New Braunsfels--fantastic Chicken Fried Steak--YUM YUM YUM.

8. Seafood Island in San Antonio for what else--seafood.

9. Family reunion BAR-B-Q on Labor Day with all kinds of homemade food--thank you family.

10. Mexican food at Johnny and Jeannie's--excellent.

11. And all the fun good things in-between at Tommy and Ann's, i.e. breakfasts, snacks, caffein-free Dr Pepper, etc.

I believe this blog has rambled enough. I'm sure I missed some things. I never heard the coyotes at Tommy's.  But we saw beautiful birds and wildlife. They live on a farm that we love. It is so peaceful. We had a great time from beginning to end!

BYU/Oklahoma

Today's the day we fly to Dallas to see the BYU/Oklahoma game tomorrow. 21 1/2 point underdogs huh? We'll just have to see about that. If our offensive line jells and gives Max the protection he needs, I see a win, 35-31. I can dream can't I!