My trip to Paris, Texas, is ending. I’m at DFW airport waiting for my flight home.

I approached this trip with excitement and dread. It had been over two years since I had been home.

Some that I needed to see were in failing health. Others I just wanted to see. I’m pleased to tell you that I did everything I needed to do.

Some were better than I expected. Others, worse. One, I don’t expect to see again. Just for that, I’m glad I came home.

I saw my best friend. Keep in mind, we text and talk all the time. Still, seeing her for the first time in a long time brought us both to tears.

Funny story. I have a small piece of property in Oklahoma. When my mom died, she asked me to never sell it. So, there I am with a piece of unusable land outside Hugo, Oklahoma. I pay taxes on it. That’s about it.

About a year ago, I got a phone call asking if I wanted to sell? I said I couldn’t. Then, they asked about leasing it? “Absolutely,” I said.

So, a year later, I met the young man that leased my family land in Oklahoma. I even remembered how to find it. It’s way out there.

Drake’s first words when I met him: “You need a dog?” “No. Why?” “I got too many.” Hahaha! I knew I was gonna like him.

We got in his ATV and toured the land. It’s rough. Woods. Rocks. Hills.

“What are you doing with the land?” “Hunting.”

He stopped. We got out. He brought his gun. “Why do you need that?” “Pigs and snakes.” Yikes! I said, “You know, I’ve seen all I need to see here.”

He took me back to my car. “You sure you don’t want a dog?” About that tine, a beautiful Airedale terrier came running up. “I’ll take her.” “No, she’s my baby.”

“What’s her name?” He didn’t skip a beat. I kid you not. He said, “Airedale.” Hahaha!

I’m glad I went home. It was nice to turn off the news for a minute. Think about other stuff.

I really want the Airedale named “Airedale.”

6 thoughts on “Home. Part 2”
  1. My mom inherited property from her dad in Lynnville, TN. Took years to get it in shape to build and live on. All the same things you mentioned. And her neighbors pay her to be allowed to hunt her back woods. But the Airedale throws me. Like a unicorn running out from between the trees. Glorious.

  2. I’m from Greenville, just up the road from you all. My cousins still own the land they got as a land grant from the Republic of Texas for fighting in the war for independence from Mexico. It was full of pecan trees so they started making fruitcakes. Their company (“Mary of Puddin’ Hill”) was very successful for years. So many great old Texas stories……

  3. Oh my gosh! We were in Dallas all weekend and just came home thru Love Field last night. As we watched the “Good Day” in Dallas each morning, I told my husband that their Good Day wasn’t as enjoyable without ‘our’ Russell and Charlie…and now we find out that the whole time we were missing you, you were just ‘up the road a spell’….LOL We were doing the same thing, visiting the most wonderful 90 year old aunt in the world. We also got to meet my husband’s ‘new’ brother. Our new family motto is “people lie, but DNA does not”. We missed the first 52 years of his life; but are SO, so blessed to get to enjoy the next 50 with him. He’s amazing and looks JUST like my husband’s dad, exactly. Glad you made it back, but sorry it was sans the beautiful Airedale.

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