My husband and I just visited our daughter in Laredo, Texas. She has been living there for about half a year, and since she has been so busy, this is the first time we have been down to visit. (She will be working there until this summer when she will be moving to New Orleans for a year. Ever since college, her life has been pretty nomadic. We are hoping that after next year she will return to live in Texas permanently.)
My husband and I have visited Laredo twice before. Both times were while looking for an apartment for her. It just seemed easier for both of us to go down and scope things out for her, rather than for her to take time off from her (then) job in Austin.
We really enjoyed our three days in Laredo. While our daughter was at work on Friday, my husband and I spent the day walking around. We went to Casa Blanca State Park and North Central Park, as well as Laredo’s absolutely beautiful mall. The weather cooperated during our visit. It was gorgeous!
She took us to some local restaurants, which was a nice change for us. (We tend to go to chains.) She has found out about some great places from her co-workers. We had really good breakfast tacos at Pano’s Bakery Internet Café and absolutely delicious panini sandwiches and salads at Caffe Dolce. (I am not exaggerating when I say “absolutely delicious”!)
She is enjoying her job a lot, and I think she is going to miss it (and her co-workers) when she leaves. Laredo is about three hours from San Antonio, and her job last year in Austin was about 1 1/2 hours from our house. I am definitely not looking forward to next year’s day-long drive to New Orleans! I wish my husband and I were more positive about flying!
PamB says
What a nice trip you had. With each move your daughter is getting farther away from you. When I think I need to ‘mother’ my adult daughter I start with….Since I birthed you…. You might want to try this if after New Orleans Texas is not in her plans.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, she lined up three one-year jobs with the idea that she would come back to Texas when they were finished. I’m hoping she does, but am not holding my breath.
reginav says
Danna, It is so very hard when one of your children moves away. I remember when our youngest and her family moved to Pittsburgh.I had been close to her children because I had taken care of them when she worked. From there they moved to CO. Believe me in those years, I fast became a frequent flier. Some Christmases, I would spend the morning here in CT and then fly out to CO in the afternoon. Times have changed. The children have grown up and I have grown older. We are still close but e-mails, phone call and skyping have taken the place of visits.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I wish the airlines were as friendly as they used to be. It’s such a doggone nuisance to fly these days. We still haven’t taken up skyping, although it did come up over her Christmas break.
Mary Joy says
Danna, I know it’s hard for you. But hopefully, her job will bring her home in the not too distant future. In the meantime, you get to visit some places you might not. New Orleans will be a great place to spend time with her -should be a lot of fun!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary Joy, our daughter hasn’t been able to get home very often, but she is trying to make an effort to do so because she knows she won’t be able to once she’s in New Orleans.
We have been watching Top Chef this season, which is set in New Orleans. It does look like a fun place to be. My husband visited New Orleans years ago, before we were married. Obviously, it has changed a lot since then.
Alfred says
Danna how was the weather there? Did you get any of that cold? It has been about 65 here each day and one day was 70. We are expecting another 70 degree day on Monday. But we need the rain bad so far only 5.50 inches this year. They say the driest winter on record in 150 years.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Alfred, the weather was absolutely beautiful in Laredo while we were there. However, they might have experienced the cold snap we had at the beginning of this week.
I hope you all get the needed rain out there. It seems like we are always in the middle of a drought out here in San Antonio.
Charlene says
My son and family live in NC. After living here till 2008, they moved for Sandra’s mom. I miss my grandkids so much. Since moving there, they added one (Brayleigh was born in 2011) and we’ve only been able to get out there twice.
About the time Josh moved, daughter Rachel moved back from MN and so at least she’s close by in Dallas with her new hubby (2011). No grandkids there and none to be expected. They are nearly 40.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Oh, Charlene, as much as you miss your son and his family, how wonderful that your daughter and her husband moved back to be close to your home just in the nick of time. My sister is currently going through the “grandchildren fun” in Chicago, and I can honestly say that I have forgotten how many times little ones get sick!
Jackie J. Griffey says
These jobs for a year sound really interesting, keep us informed when your daughter goes to New Orleans. I haven’t been back there since my husband and I stopped to see the damage after the terrible hurricanes several years ago – I miss-typed that tears instead of years or maybe not – he passed away about a year after that and it was the last place he took me to check out the damage and what was open or destroyed at the time I was sending my characters there. That file in my cabinet is full of memories.
BTW, my brother-in-law is writing his memoirs and looking around (without any knowledge or previous experience at all, bless his heart). Can anyone suggest where he could get it published as close to free as a US citizen can get anything these days? He just wants it POD where anyone who wants to read it can. All suggestions or info appreciated. Thank you 😎
Jackie
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jackie, I don’t know anything about the publishing world, but can’t your brother make his book available in e-book format on Amazon and Barnes & Noble?