39 BYOB?

      It was a short ride from Port Isabel to the "Valley"  we were headed for Alamo TX to visit my cousin Sandy and her husband Jerry.  They have been enjoying the sunshine of the valley for many years.  It is a welcome relief from their residence in the middle of Minnesota.  Like many of the Valley residents it probably started out with short visits or like the group we just left in Port Isabel, some came in their RV's then became wrapped up in the activities spending more time each winter.   They moved into more permanent structure's and called it their winter home.  The Valley has accepted them and seen the value of these visitors and have changed the slang "snow birds" to a respectable "Winter Texans"  they even have a publication devoted to them and their activities.
    Someone once said there ain't nothing in the valley but Mexicans and old people!  Reminds me a little of the line from Tom T Halls song."Old dogs, children and watermelon wine."  God bless little children while their to young to hate!  Well I'm here, wonder which one I am?  Mexicans?  Remember Mexicans and native Americans were the first Texans, something to think about.  Old people?  Lets take a look.
     This area is not actually a valley.  It is an area along the Rio Grande as far south as you can go without a passport.  
     Sandy and Jerry were expecting us and soon we were enjoying a delicious lunch and catching up.  One of the questions people contemplating retirement always wonder, is what do you with all your time?  Sandy immediately pulled out her activities calendar, and it seemed from that time until we left we were always doing something.  One sign I seen read, Retired: Nothing to do and I have trouble getting it done by Noon.
     Of course some of it was our hosts showing the local flavor. They had three side trips in mind.  One of the first stops was the Mexican flea market.  I would compare it to a county fair.  Once you find parking you go up and down endless isles.  Commercial type ventures like a western boot store with doors, tents with aisles and aisles of  clothes, electronics, fruits and vegetables, there's a puppy, and some chickens (live), cemetery monuments.  A huge pile of shoes, yes pile. It was very interesting and fun.

Spanish moss is not a parasite like Mistletoe!

      We took a trip to the Santa Ana National wild life refuge,  They advertised Ocelot's and even had pictures so we could identify them from Bob cats, they even had a hot line to call with instructions what to do if we seen one.  Maybe today will be the day!
         At the refuge we climbed on a tour bus and headed toward the border, because of border activity part of the roads were avoided.  The tour guide pointed out the various trees and bushes, ( I wanted to ask about the ocelot, however I remained silent.  My camera was ready.)  One of the trees that amazed me was the mesquite.  The reason it grows so well here is because it's tap root can go down to 200 feet, amazing.  It is known as an invasive species because it hubs like clumps choke out surface vegetation
.  Here is what one early pioneer wrote. [Mesquite is] “the devil with roots. It scabs my cows, spooks my horses, and gives little shade.”  I think he was against it.  Three quarters of all the mesquite grows in Texas 56 million acres.  We were told that it spread north by the early cattle drives,  cattle eating the seeds would spread the seeds on the trail.  Sometimes the trunk appears like it has been burned however we found out this is the sap that turns it black.  We were able to climb a tower to look over the forest. Ruthie even climbed it with her repaired knee. 
   We visited a cemetery in the refuge.  Some of the early settlers were given a grant of land one mile wide and 15 miles long. ( a days mule travel.)  Imagine the danger for these people as the land they owned was fought over, they were indeed in the middle.
    I'm beginning to believe the Ocelot is a mystical creature.

Don't forget to pick up the pig's head on your way home.

     The days at the park were filled with everything from movie night, ( bring your own snack) watching shuffle board tournaments, a park rummage sale, sitting outside enjoying the sun, doughnut day at the park.
    People from the park are always busy doing something, if you are outside someone is bound to stop by like their friend Tom (from Iowa) he usually stops by on his golf cart for a short visit.  He has a Harley trike and several of the residents are now getting into three wheeled adventures.  They have a nice group that goes out on a ride a couple of times a week.  Their next door neighbor Wayne has a pretty red one on order so they can join the group, I hope Gloria likes it.  I hear their are even plans to start a motorcycle-club, with jackets.  We met Shirley and Jerry, their neighbors from the other side, this was a very outgoing group,  one of the couples was from Dresser Wisconsin where our daughter and family live. 

      I can't remember how we got started on the subject.  How does anything start, somebody opened their mouth. Well anyway we were telling them about the time in Arkansas we stopped for a bite to eat and Ruthie was teased about ordering a pronto pup.  The clerk said he had been in 47 states and had never heard such a thing.

          What's a ROPA?  I asked when Sandy mentioned one of the places we were going to visit.  You'll see she said,  I now have been and it is still hard to understand.  The best I can do is, bulk clothing, some new, some over production,( for example the losing football teams championship t shirts that were prepared ahead of time)  but mostly used, recycled clothing.  Banded in a large bale and stored in a ware house.  You can buy clothing by the pound.  It was quite a site.  People come and search thru the piles after the bands have been cut.  There are rows of warehouses filled with Ropa clothing.   My treasure's were some suspenders and a strap for a camera, I had seen enough.  Thank you very much.

      A trip to an Aloe Vera ranch and manufacturing plant named Hilltop gardens was much more soothing.   I remember Sandy saying we had to go down Uncle Peters road to get there.  The gardens were peaceful.  A wide variety of flowers and aloe Vera plants arranged along walking paths.  A welcome break from Ropa and the flea market.
    It turns out Sandy is a "dog on a stick"  aficionado and had the answer to our pronto pup/ corn dog controversy.  As she explains corn dogs have a coating made with a base of corn meal and pronto pups start with flour.  Thank goodness, no more sleepless nights. Now there is only one mystery from this trip, the gravity assisted vehicles from Mulberry Mountain in Arkansas??
     During a break from activities Jerry took me on a private tour of the facilities, an indoor swimming pool, a recreation area with pool table, a complete wood shop, a large community area with massive kitchen area and of course a shuffle board area.  As we circled the park in their golf cart we stopped many times for introductions,  because of the mild weather the residents were out and about by-cycling, walking planting flowers, polishing their motorcycles?  No old people here.  
     Today was going to be another new experience, we were on our way to the jam session up at the community center. I imagined a group of 3-5 people bringing their instruments and a small group of spectators, (probably friends or spouses of the participants, obligated to attend I suspected. )  Maybe a few songs and a sing along.   The bad thing about preconceived conceptions.  You are usually wrong!  Sandy had warned us to start out earlier so we could get a good seat, my first clue was the row of golf carts parked outside and then the parking area filled with cars.  As we entered it was obvious by the excited sound of people visiting and musicians tuning their instruments.  This was going to be an event.  The 150 seat community center was full.   I don't know exactly how they made the arrangement, a entertainer would get up and start their musical contribution and the rest would join in with their instruments.  There were over 30 musicians. They come from local parks to join in, despite aches, pains and yes terminal illness here they are sharing their talents. 
     I think of  a grand child up north somewhere, sitting in school looking out at the frozen ground and drifting snow.  Daydreaming about their grandparents rocking on a porch, maybe knitting, soaking up the warmth of the sun.   Yes Virginia, there are times like that.  But today your Gram-pa is strumming his guitar and singing "if I had to do it all over again, I'd do it with you!" dedicated to his bride of  67 years, maybe your great grandmother is line dancing in the back, ( yes one with the aid of a cane.) and here comes a polka, and here I go, I figured Ruthie couldn't pass up a polka, even with her knee.  We danced a few of the songs and then "man down"  actually it was "woman down"  Ruthie hit my foot. ( I apologize.) and despite both our efforts down she went.  She hurt her hand and pride.  I admire the vitality of this group.  Yup no old people here!
      While we were in Port Isabel one of my posts on Facebook brought a message that we were very close to another classmate that winters in the valley.  I tried calling and then did an email to see if we could see them on this trip. 

    .  No response until today. A phone call.  It turns out they are less than two miles from Alamo Paradise park where we are staying.  As we were already planning our departure the next day we made a quick trip over to pay them a visit.  David and Carol had slipped us into their schedule between park events and a soup supper that was being held in a local park.  All the soup you want for two dollars and BYOB!  We had a nice visit, it was great to see them if only for a short time.  Carol's brother came by to join them for the outing and they needed to be on their way or they wouldn't get a place to sit.

Winter Texan's Jerry and Sandy!

     It was time for us to return to our host park to ready ourselves for our next adventure.  Stillwell's and Big Bend! What's in store for us there?
Thanks Jerry and Sandy for a wonderful time.

Oh yes!   BYOB = Bring your own bowl!