After serving a warrant, the responding officer gave the man a ride to a store to get a $646 money order to pay his fines and avoid a trip to jail.Just so you don't get the impression it's like Mayberry RFD around here, we do have a dark side.
A mother went to the police station for help installing a child car seat. 'Officer Friendly' provided assistance.
When an officer spied a red Tercel with an expired registration sticker and state inspection sticker in the high school parking lot, he left the owner a voice message to get them renewed.
After sounds of beating and screaming were reported, the responding officer found a woman beating a rug and two children playing nearby.
A caller reported a neighbor was spreading lies and rumors about her. Police contacted the neighbor and told her to stop.Damn those ex-wives, always starting trouble...
A man reported his soon-to-be ex-wife was throwing rocks at this car.
In other news, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving we held our annual post-Thanksgiving party (when I say "our" I mean the royal "our," as in a multifamily event - not "our" as in my wife and I). It started off several years ago as a small gathering of friends and family, and has since morphed into an event that rivals Thanksgiving itself.
This year around 80 people showed up. Kids and dogs were everywhere underfoot. A bunch of local pickers took turns playing and entertaining the crowd. There was a day-long washer tournament. Beer, wine, and other adult beverages flowed freely. And there was food. Lord God Almighty there was food.
There was an embarrassment of food. We're not talking Thanksgiving leftovers here. We're talking a fresh batch of over-the-top vittles.
Multiple BBQ teams were each doing their best to outdo the others (the winner by acclimation was the trio that roasted a whole pig in a metal-lined wooden box). At the same time we had a fierce contest of gumbo and jambalaya cooks - or rather, chefs. There were side dishes galore, including a version of mac-n-cheese with lobster(!) in it. And of course, multiple desserts.
It's a very informal, everyone-is-welcome showcase of country living at its finest. At times like that I just stop and give thanks that I escaped from Houston to this little slice of Heaven.
Unfortunately, on Monday I had to saddle up and leave town, heading to my job in South Texas. Oh well, the bills need to be paid.
Besides, in this economy I'm just grateful to have a job...
4 comments:
My stepdad commuted to The Woodlands from here for five years. Means to an end.
I live in a small town that used to be like what you describe, until the ritzy folks discovered they could build McMansion-ranchettes and commute to the city for work. Changed the whole feel of the town. No sense of community left, whatsoever. I am counting the days (years) until I can move to a gentler part of Texas.
Harper, this place isn't as Norman Rockwell-esque as I make it appear.
Don't get me wrong - it's still a wonderful place to live. But San Antonio is rapidly expanding our way, and we're starting to suffer from an influx of 'city folk.' There are even McMansions going up around here.
So far, however, we've been fortunate. The newcomers have been very good about adapting to our way of life, and not demanding that things change to suit them. Most of them say that they moved here because of the small town atmosphere, and they don't want to see that change.
They're also a welcome revenue source. We now have one of the finest small VFD facilities around, thanks to generous donations and participation in fund-raising events. Other local charities have experienced the same.
Up to this point we've enjoyed the best of both worlds; small town life and new, more affluent residents who try to fit in rather than take over. I just hope it stays that way.
I can't wait to get the hell out of Sodom on the Potomac and get back to God's Country...
NFO - What are you waiting for?
Plenty of friendly people and great places to live in Central Texas - and the rest of the state is pretty good too...
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