Nothing to Fear...Except Giant Moths

Normally not one for giving away the plot line of anything; I abhor spoilers and even talking about a series on which I'm behind in viewing because, for me, I love watching a story unfold. I love seeing each moment as it happens and being there with the characters at each revelation.

So forgive me if I start rapidly breezing through the last few days of my trip -- it's just that I had some thoughts I wanted to share from this morning, but I know there's a cliffhanger just... well, hanging out there; and so let's get to the conclusion of the road trip that brought me to Texas.

Truth be told, after Nashville there is a good chunk of missing time for me. Nothing as dramatic as alien abduction; I was just sleeping. So there I am fast asleep, having wicked dreams that I can't recall (been doing that a lot lately), when I awake to one of those moments where you question if you're actually awake. See, J.Vlo was driving this leg of the journey and right about the time I open my eyes, I hear these words: Where's that Yield go? Oh shit.

Really. Are these words to wake up to? How about those words and two blinding lights from the semi-truck heading at us? I only wish I had taken a picture. It was actually kinda funny in retrospect as we were fine and in the correct lane -- it was just a tiny bridge and an optical illusion that made me fear briefly for my life. And that seemed to be the theme of the evening. J.Vlo, upon sliding her Visa into a gaspump casually glanced over and saw, resting just inches away from her hand --

MOTHRA!

Yes, a giant, mutant moth waiting to devour the next unsuspecting fool needing gas, like a spider preying on flies -- you know, if flies had to stop for gas in Texarkana close to midnight.

It's close to midnight... and somethin' evil's lurkin' in the dark....

Sorry, Thriller moment. It's over. And so is the first part of the road trip adventure. We made it safely to Austin and have been enjoying Texas and all its shoe-melting heat. Seriously, ninety-eight is considered cool and breezy here. I cannot wait until Autumn.

One of the things I've found time to do here in the Lone Star state was something I wasn't expecting to do.

If there are two things I've come to regard as off-topic casual subjects, it's religion and politics. There is a time for serious discussion on both, but at parties or on blogs, I tend to steer away from asserting my views as they are mine and well, it just seems better to save those topics for more serious forums.

However, I'll lay this out there. I'm not a church going man. Don't misunderstand, I believe there is a God. Always have. Always will. It's church that I've never been real supportive of. Didn't go much as a kid and don't attend often now.

But sometimes I do and today was one of those times.

Gotta say, pretty inspiring. Faith is a fascinating thing.

This morning as I sat through the service, I kept looking around. I probably looked bored with the sermon, but I wasn't. I was just watching people. During the prayer offerings, all these people came down to the front and prayed with total strangers and it was compelling. Two people... strangers as far as I could tell... just supporting one another.

This blond woman with a sherbert orange top was heading back to her seat gracefully wiping away tears -- not sad tears. It didn't seem as if any tradegy had recently befallen her or her family that she returned to -- she just seemed like she'd made a connection. And on the way out the band was playing something that would play on a Christian station and while many were shuffling out to rush off to lunch or further studies, there were a few who simply stood and sang and swayed and, in the case of one slightly embarassed twelve-year-old's mother, bopped to this music in such a way that I had to smile. I'm not a church going person. But I can completely see why people are.

And then later, I went to the Alamo. It's surreal. If you really stop and think about it and listen to the tour guides, you realize that quite a number of men died there because they were fighting for freedom and independence. And now there's a Starbucks across the street and a mall and a gift shop and ---

I marvel at the things that those before us sacrificed -- the passion with which they lived, and in cases like the Alamo, for which they died. Men no older than me led charges and gave their lives for freedom.

Some are doing it right now. And I'm complaining because it's hot outside and some yokel on the way home couldn't drive. Just makes me think.

Did you know that it's a town ordinance in San Antonio that no building ever be built that will cast a shadow upon the Alamo? The sun always shines down on that building, on that land where so many gave everything they had. That also makes me think.

We should all be so gracious when remembering the generations that came before us and how their sacrifices made a better life for us now. And it makes me wonder, what will we do for those who come after? How will they remember us?