Little pieces of Texas

Well, after a visit out west and nearly two weeks spent wandering the cold, dusty roads of the west Texas mountains we came away with the renewal that the area brings to our souls.  We were able to get more of a feel for the area we never had before, actively looking at real estate as first priority and being tourists as secondary.  We met several of our potential future neighbors, visited with some old friends, met some friends we had made over the internet and drove 950+ miles in 10 days in Jeff Davis and Brewster counties.  Our whole round trip was 4065 miles, 79 hours behind the windshield of the truck.

While out this trip, we learned that one of our favorite places to rock hunt has closed.  The Woodward Ranch and Trey Woodward were unique in their own way.  When I heard Trey had passed away a year or so back, I knew how things would likely go.  I had last visited in 2010 and had as always enjoyed a casual conversation with Trey.  We will miss both.  As the ranch is now closed, my wife and I decided to go roadside rock hunting instead.  We found some varied rocks, agates and other evidence of the long extinct west Texas volcano.  I came home with two medium sized pieces of rock from this trip that neatly stack one atop the other.  They now reside by the coat rack at our South Carolina front door, I nudge them with my foot on the way by each day.  I look forward to the day they reside at our front door in West Texas.

We have had so many unexpected things fall into place in the last couple of months regarding this move.  We have had doors open that we did not expect, many prayers answered.  This new beginning for us has been in planning for 30 years, and we can finally see the goal we have worked so very hard to reach.

Cheers, the finish line is in sight!  Soon, we will be savoring the beauty of west Texas sunrises and sunsets on a daily basis.  As the days to retirement are now two digits, the excitement is building.  I look forward to closing this door behind me...