Gone But Not Forgotten

Tonight I'm heart-broken. A dear friend since childhood is no longer with us. After moving to Houston more than 25-years ago we had lost touch, but I never forgot that sweetness and warmth. I can still remember the good times in Atlanta with my mom, dad and my brother David as we drove for miles to spend a few special moments together with my friend. Yes, tonight I'm heart-broken because a relationship once lost, then found, is now lost again . . . . Krispy Kreme Donuts in Northwest Houston has closed its doors for good and all that remains are the memories and the empty green and white shell of a building. Those incredible glazed rings hot out of the grease may have added pounds to my fiftysomething waist line, but oh the sugar rush made it all worth while. The caffeine buzz from their special blend coffee made the occasional trip to the urologist a personal sacrifice worth making. Crulers shaped like tiny four-inch tractor tires would melt in your mouth and the chocolate-dipped originals brought new meaning to the phrase "love at first bite." For a short time the Krispy Kreme in Northwest Houston commanded flashbacks of simpler days when Bonanza rode into my living room every Sunday night and the school boys asked, "Ginger or Mary Ann?" Holy sweet sin-sation Batman, Krispy Kreme donuts were the best and always will be, not only because of their tempting flavor and knack for immediate gratification, but because of all the fond memories surrounding this Southern icon. My hope is that the recently opened Krystal restaurant doesn't meet the same fate here. If it does I will be devastated. Let us pray...

Small Town Wonders

I had to take a short business trip today; short by Texas standards that is. I drove to Bay City, Texas, a small town about 100 miles southwest of Houston and not too far from the Gulf coast. I really enjoy driving these back roads and taking in the sights and sounds of communities far from Houston with its traffic and noise. Bay City was nice enough with its refurbished downtown area surrounding the '50s style block granite county courthouse. The people were friendly and the pace was so laid back. But it was on my return trip home that the real taste of Texas began. Thirtysomething miles from Bay City is the town of Wharton. Like so many other communities outside of Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, Wharton is a grassroots piece of Texan culture with strong moral values and a simpler, homespun lifestyle. I stopped at McDonald's to treat myself to the first Quarter Pounder with cheese that I've had in years. The burger was good, the fries were great and the decor as perfect. The golden arched walls of this American icon were covered with finely drawn black and white caricatures of town celebrities. There was a wall of fame for special employees of this particular McDonald's location. There were drawings of city councilmen and other political figures. There was even one of Officer Steve, the D.A.R.E. coordinator for Wharton. But, the best were drawings of staff members from Dawson Elementary School. The founders of this part of Texas were of German and Polish descent, so the names still reflect that bit of history. There was a caricature of Mrs. Fucik with a cartoon-style voice bubble above her head that read, "It's foo-check you smart aleck!" There was the drawing of 5th grade math teacher, Pat Kovar that read, "commence cipherin' ", and Liz Chilek's drawing with, "There's no crying in the 4th grade!" written below. Ms. Jubenak and Ms. Konvick's caricatures had drawings of young boys with glazed eyes and hearts floating above their heads. But the best cartoon image was of assistant principal, Ms. Kallina with the boldly written heading, "Fear This Office!" From Wharton I passed through mattress central: Sealy, Texas. Really. That Sealy . . . the Sealy Mattress Company. Just beyond there is where if found a folk art commemoration to the long forgotten prehistoric creature, Tywheelosaurus. Tywheelosaurus was a massive predator of the NASCARassic era with a skeletal structure made entirely of tire wheels. In a pasture filled with grazing cattle, this imposing sculpture was mounted atop a full size tractor trailer along I-10 for lovers of bizarre stuff to stop and see. I stopped, I saw, and I delighted in another great day on the Lone Star backroads.