#rgvlife

I have been singing out loud for days now. Music drives me home from what I hope still can be considered Austin, down towards 410 and on to my favorite memories.

I remember the morning the bombs had gone off. Nothing nuclear. No, the goal had been to destroy but not erase people. Not to poison. It was supposed to be a routine trip. Fly in for the University of Texas, participate in the Literary Festival and make it home by the weekend.

Back to my wife, my daughter, those fated memories. That was 3 weeks, two separate ATV's, a barely running pickup and 8 clips for the standard issue Austin PD handgun I pilfered ago.

I admit teaching Communication to college students was not a skill set I figured would be crucial to survival, but when the world has gone to Hell, the least we can do is communicate. So here I am. Wearing a Cowboy hat to fight off the February sun, a duster to hide the vest and gear I pulled off that Officer. Pushing forward through our once famously weird state capital towards my favorite memories.

Rememberance is a kindness, and it seems to be all that I can do now. Now that it's all gone. One moment, a thousand flashes, a resounding crash and then silence. The world ended in bangs and flame only to begin again in silence. Have to remember, cannot nor should I forget.

What was that Officer's name?

Rodriguez I think his tag had stated. Poor guy wasn't anything more than a corpse, lost to debris or worse when I found him. I can only pull the brim of my hat down a bit in salute for the loss and gain that was Rodriguez.

It's been way to long trying to get out of this place. Buildings crumbled, bridges destroyed and so much death. It's all in the corner of my mind. Hiding under the songs that give me my favorite melodies.

So now I take what I can and cross over the lake and get on my way. Like an old cowboy humming my intent, and singing when fear or desperation grips me.

"In the corner of my mind..."

I will get home. Come Hell or high water.

"Stands a jukebox..."

My family is waiting.

"... and it's playing my favorite memories..."

Just got to keep the trail moving until dark.

"One by one they take me back. To the days when you were mine..."

Back down south. Back home. Back towards the Rio Grande.