I initially despised everything about West Texas when I moved there. It's not a place for the timid or faint of heart. Crude, tough, unsophisticated, seemingly lawless, relentlessly unforgiving. Endless dust storms and violent winds, searing heat, brutal droughts, hoards of scorpions, rattlesnakes, tarantulas, fire ants, and chiggers.
I only came to Texas to be near my retired parents. We eventually all realized that it could be an inhospitable place to unsuspecting outsiders.
My initial disdain for West TX was intensified because of all the unpleasant times and bad luck that I had there. Both of my parents died there. I later eventually lost all my savings due to bad business deals and identity theft. It took nearly four years to sell my house. It was a large, beautiful home - but it was located in a tiny one-horse town where nobody wanted to live and where money was scarce.
After the house finally sold, I and my three cats headed to rural Tennessee - where I now find myself existing in acute poverty, alarming squalor, and unrelenting ill health.
In retrospect - despite the bad times - West Texas has a lot of unexpected and untamed beauty. My frequent explorations yielded many pleasant surprises - and I took some of my best (and favorite) photos there
If it wasn't for all the devastatingly negative times, perhaps I would miss it.
The music I chose for the video is one of my absolute all-time favorites - - Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Terrega (1852 - 1909). It is hauntingly bittersweet, with tender sadness and yearning for memories of the past.
Jon
Video is best viewed full-screen
The heat and the dust would do me in. I live way up north for a reason--lol! I prefer blizzards and woods to desert life. But you did get some beautiful photos. :)
ReplyDeleteThe desert can be intriguing at times, but it can also be depressing. I don't like blizzards but I really do love to see a change of seasons.
DeleteI remember the time we travelled from Colorado to Texas, on our way to Oklahoma so much dust and tumbleweeds. We stopped at one of the little highway markets for petrol, and told the clerk we were going to turn back and make our way home because we could smell the car was burning oil.....thankfully she told us it was the oil fields we could smell :)
ReplyDeleteI'd like to go back some day, I've always admired it's fortitude.
Hope your days become kinder Jon, weather should be breaking soon, and you can make it to town,
Jo
You're absolutely right about the smell of burning oil. My parents lived in Odessa, TX and the incredible smell from the nearby oil refineries was intolerable - especially when the wind blew in the right direction.
DeleteBeautiful music.
ReplyDeleteJo
Jon, please count me as one of your readers who cares about you and your welfare. I worry about you and your situation. I'm not tech savvy, but could you start a GoFund me page to give you some help financially? I would certainly donate. Jackie in CA
ReplyDeleteFortunately, after a two-year battle, the situation was resolved in my favor and I'm now collecting long-overdue "subsidies", It's not much, but it's enough to pay bills and buy food. My problems certainly aren't over, but at least this one "conquest" is a big help. Many thanks for your concern, Jackie, it's greatly appreciated.
DeleteIt's been more than 30 years since I lived in West Texas, but I still have love/hate emotions -- remembering the best times of my life. And, what I thought were the worst. Not until I lived in Florida did the Universe show me what 'worst' times were. Maybe that's why I was so anxious to leave.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like all my bed times happened after I left California. Texas was the absolute worst (I haven't revealed everything) and Tennessee is a "runner up".
DeleteThank goodness we have good memories that counteract the bad.
I meant to say BAD times. My bed times are something entirely different......(*smile*)
DeleteWhen I graduated from college I almost moved to San Antonio. Just happened I had a better job offer in Miami....so there I went. I worked ICU and that particular hospital offered something they called 7-70. You worked 7 straight days, 10-hour shifts. That was it for the month. I got full pay and benefits and only worked 7 days a month. What a dream for a 22-year-old living in Miami. Spent a lot of time in the Keys and lived like a tourist. The party was ON! LOL! Eventually I tired of that lifestyle and missed the seasons....back home to Ohio and I never looked back. I've often wondered where life would have taken me if I had moved to Texas. I really did like what I saw of San Antonio. Loved the music in the video and so appropriate for that Texas setting. Thank you for the introduction!
ReplyDeleteParanormal John
I always emphasize that I lived in West TX, because it is much different than other parts of the state. You would probably have liked San Antonio, but - I agree - that I'd rather live in a place where there is a change of seasons.
DeleteThis video surely must have evoked many bittersweet memories for you John. I liked seeing the snow on the pumpkin and the hat and beautiful sunset, plus the yellow rose of TX. I was curious about the long building and a few other scenes.
ReplyDeleteThe long building is Fort Comcho, in San Angelo, TX - where I lived for awhile. The snowy photos were taken when I moved farther north - on the high plains about 50 miles from Lubbock.
DeleteI meant to say Fort CONCHO. Sorry for the typo.
DeleteMy husband wanted us to move to Texas years ago but sadly my life was HERE! My aging parents, my job, my long time friends. Now I wish I had listened to him! I have begun to hate PA - a lot! It is NOT the place I was born in for sure!
ReplyDeleteThe music for your video is PERFECT!!
I can understand your dislike for PA, but it's very difficult to move away from friends and family. Texas is a huge state - - I think the worst part is West TX where I lived. I haven't even begun to tell about all the problems I had there.
DeleteI agree that the music is a perfect compliment to the photos!
Why did your folks move to Texas? (salemslot9)
ReplyDelete