They say everything’s bigger in Texas so I guess that applies to dumb mistakes too.
Saturday morning, I had every intention of seeing Austin’s Veterans Day parade along Congress Avenue. Even though it quite clearly states the parade’s route along the city’s main north-south thoroughfare, I somehow got it backwards and showed up late and missed it completely.
I had it in my head the parade began at the Texas Capitol, heading south, ending on Congress at the bridge on the southern edge of downtown near where I reside.
With a 9:00 AM start time I figured the parade wouldn’t be in my neck of the woods until closer to 9:30 so I took my good ‘ole time getting ready. By the time, I made the five-minute walk to the site…
I saw an eerily empty Congress Avenue, the Austin Fire Department lowering the flag and beyond that a line of street sweepers bringing up the rear of the parade cleaning up the horse manure.
Yay me.
Luckily, the entire event was streamed online and is available for viewing.
The Texas Book Festival was also happening that morning in the same area after the parade but it didn’t open until later. I didn’t stay.
Below are some things Texas-related that I’ve been reading or have caught my attention:
“What It Means To Be A Texan Is Changing In Surprising Ways” – New York Times
A Catholic Bishop in Texas loudly criticized the Pope…and got the boot. (New York Times)
The U.S. military delivered its promise of “no one left behind” for one Texas family…80 years later. (Austin American-Statesman)
The mother of a shooting victim in Uvalde lost her bid for mayor. (New York Times)
Droves of Californians are moving to Texas. (Los Angeles Times)
Unmasking Texas neo-Nazis. (Texas Observer)
Those annoying self-driving Cruise cars in Austin have been pulled from the streets. (Texas Tribune)
