Visiting The Alamo.

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We're going back to San Antonio today, this time to visit the Alamo. A place of Pride among Texans.  We got to sleep in, since it's only an hour and a half away from Ashley's house.  It is 10:30 in the morning.  Ohhh, it feels so good to have slept in so well today!  We do our usual routine, and head back to San Antonio Texas, this time for the warrior memorial. 
     Of course we do our daily routine of getting ready for our day trip.  Brushing our teeth, lotioning up, and all that.  You don't need to hear it all again.  "Okay, are we ready?"  Conan asks.  "Yes, I think we are."  I say.  "Yeah, we're ready."  Ashley confirms.  "Okay, then let's hit the road!"  He says.  "Let's!"  I carry Luna, and Ashley Carries Conan Jr. out to the car, and we get them buckled up.  Then Ashley climbs over the baby seats, so she could sit in the middle, I sit in front with Conan.  "Hey, is it okay if we go to grab a wreath?  And you can help me pick stuff out for it?"  Conan asks.  "Yeah!  Of course!"  I say.  So we stop at a place that sells wreaths.  We found stuff at Michael's.  He didn't tell me until we found a wreath, he wants to do it to place by the Alamo.  He tears up.  "That is a lovely idea.  You're gonna make me cry!  It's so thoughtful!  I'm glad I get to be a part of it too."  I say.  "Yeah, you're a part of my life, I've never done this before.  And I want to do something special.  And The Alamo means a lot to us Texans.  And you mean a lot to me, I want you to be a part of this.  So choose stuff."  Conan says.  "Okay, Let's look.  Should we go separate and meet in the middle aisle?"  I ask.  "Sure, that sounds good."  He says.  So we head on our own way.  I first go to the ribbon/craft section.  There's one with the Texan Flag design on it, so I picked that up, to wrap around the entire wreath.  It's a whole roll of it.  So I just get it, it's $3.99.  And it's better to have too much than not enough.  We can always use it for something else.  Next, I find "The Alamo" mini figurines.  They're iron.  Silver colored.  I figure we can put them on the wreath, all around it.  I pick up wires to help make it stay.   Then, Conan and I meet up.  He had found a ribbon with a metal.  In honor of the heroes.  I tell him my ideas, he loves the ideas, and tears up.  "It's beautiful!  I love those ideas!  What a way to honor the fallen heroes.  I'm gonna cry!"  I say.  "So the figures won't make it look too tacky?  Sometimes people say certain things are too tacky.  Especially when people put a lot of stuff.  But I guess it's only 3 things."  I say.  "Yeah, and you know what?  I don't care if others think it's Tacky.  It is a beautiful way to honor them.  Honestly I don't think we can even put enough on the wreath to honor them.  32 men literally gave their lives in response of The Appeal Of Travis.  That was a rough time, and those men were brave enough to fight.  WILLINGLY!  Nobody asked them to, the government or nobody called war.  They acted on their own.  So no, it's not too much.  Not enough I don't think."  Conan says.  His eyes are so full of tears.  I give him a long, tight hug.  He starts sobbing, and so do I.  "Wow!  See, I haven't heard the story of the Alamo.  Wow.  They risked their lives, without being asked.  The fact they took action like that, I just, I have no words.  Except, they're brave heroes!  I think we need to visit the Alamo every year, and we need to make a wreath, with different decorations, or the same, and put it down in front of the Alamo.  I'm proud to be part of this.  Because you are a Texan, and knowing the story, like, I just am so heartbroken for those 32 men.  And so proud.  And I'm not even a Texan.  That's what I mean by to be a part of this.  I'm not a Texan and I'm proud.  I'm happy to honor them."  I say.  "I'm very happy you wanted to be a part of this.  And yeah, that's a good idea.  I would like that.  I have not gone every year.  I've only gone like, 3 times.
      "Okay, it's not much of a difference, but San Antonio is 1 hour and 39 minutes away from here.  From here, to Specifically The Alamo, it's only 1 hour, and 36 minutes!"  "Oh wow.  Cool!  But yeah it isn't much of a difference.  And that's fine.  I love the road!  So I find road trips to be very fun.  I'd be okay with it taking more time.  Usually even like a 5 hour road Trip isn't enough for me.  I get to the destination and I wish it didn't end yet.  You know?"  I say.  "Yeah, I'm the same way.  I love the road to, and being on it.  I love seeing all the trees and the cars going by, it's just so fun!"  Conan says.  "EXACTLY!  I have a hard time sleeping when I'm on the road.  Because even if I'm exhausted, I can't seem to get myself to fall asleep.  I want to watch the road and look at the trees and water, and all the beautiful nature.  And the cars of course."  "Yeah, when I was younger, I could fall asleep easily in the car.  But now that I'm older, I find it harder.  I mean, now I HAVE to stay awake all the time, because I have to drive."  "Yeah, because I unfortunately can not.  I appreciate you always driving us everywhere."  I say.  "Hey, but look at all the things you CAN do!  I'm so proud of you, baby!  For all the things you've accomplished.  I remember you told me about your disability and all the things the doctors said you couldn't ever do.  And you did most of it!  Be happy and proud of all the things you have accomplished in life.  And all the obstacles you have overcome!"  Conan says, noticing I was upset when I said it's unfortunate I can't drive.  I smile.  "I know, I sometimes just let my disability get to me.  I can't help it.  I'm better now though, when I was a kid, all the way to like, 22.  I always compared myself to others.  I'd be like 'Man, my sister learned how to do Laundry at 13!  And I'm 21 and still don't know how', And  'Awww, I'm 18, going to drivers training, and most teens have their license at 16!  And then it really upset me when I ended up not being able to drive.  But hey, I didn't take the road test, they didn't schedule an appointment for that.  Which is good, because I would have had to drive on the highway a little bit.  I'm not comfortable with that.  The driving trainers said my brain was making me too slow to react.  On the road, for practice, I would use the breaks a little delayed.  So could you imagine if I took the road test?  If someone had pulled in front of me suddenly, I wouldn't be able to hit me breaks soon enough, and I'd get in a car wreck.  No thanks.  So it may suck, but I've made my peace with it.  I have accomplished so many things the doctors said I couldn't do.  They said I wouldn't be able to tie my shoes.  Well, one day, I saw a "Wizards Of Waverly Place" shoes, and I REALLY wanted them.  But they had laces.  My mom told me 'Okay, if you can learn how to tie shoes, I will buy them for you.'  So the challenge was ON!  That night, I had successfully tied a pair of shoes.  At 15 years old!  Again, it's like 'wow.  I just learned how to tie my shoes, and most people learn from the age of 4.  But, I remember how good it felt to have learned that!  Everyone including myself was cheering and all that, my mom took me the next day to get the shoes.  I had used my grandma's shoes to practice on."  I say.  "That's incredible!  See?  There's SO much for you to be proud of!  I'm proud of you for all the things you've accomplished!  And yeah, so the fact you learned, should feel amazing!  It took you longer than others, but that's all the more reason to celebrate!  And yeah, I'm glad you've made your peace with the fact you are unable to drive.  I mean you CAN drive.  You did in training.  But ultimately, it's not safe for you.  And I always want you to be safe."  Conan says.  I smile, and tear up.  "You are SO amazing!  Putting me in check.  Making me realize it's okay to not learn things at the same time most people do.  And also, in fact, I was always in special ed.  By the end of high school, my IQ was average!  It used to be really low.  So that was a proud moment for me and my family.  And yeah, thanks for pointing out that it's a good reason for celebration!  I love you so much!  And you always support me and make me feel better about being slower at things, or never being able to do things, because it's risky, like driving.  I'd rather not drive, than lose my life to a person who cut in front of me, because I was too slow.  Or maybe just getting severely hurt.  That's not worth it, for any reason."  I say.  "Well you're welcome!  And it is okay.  I'm happy I put you in check.  You needed to be.  I don't want you to bring yourself down.  I will always pick you right back up.  ALWAYS.  I mean it.  And that's another amazing thing!  The IQ thing!  And yeah, I'd rather you be safe, and live."  Conan says.  "Yeah. I definitely needed that.  You're so sweet!  And I know you will always pick me right back up.  Besides, it's not good for you to compare yourself to others, and I've always known that, but I always did anyways.  But then it only lasts a few minutes typically.  I don't feel down for long.  Some people, have their mental health destroyed by their comparisons of themselves with others, thankfully not me."  I say.  We finish up that conversation, and he turns on some music and it makes me feel great.  Upbeat rock.  The babies are wide awake this time.  Maybe it's because they slept in today.  
      We are finally in San Antonio.  We see the Alamo.  It's a beautiful building made of stone bricks.  In front of the building, the ground was made up of shattered glass looking rocks.  There's an area of grass, that is protected by stakes and rope all around it.  I don't know what for.  People are stepping in it anyways.  We walk around, and see statues.  In the back, behind the building, there is a beautiful stone statue, with the 32 men carved into it, with all of their names, below.  So very moving.  We all get pictures.  How could we not?  It's something so meaningful.  We all shed some tears.  Conan seemed to be most upset.   Ashley and I hug him.  "It's just so Sad!"  Conan says through sobs.  "I know, I'm right with you.  It's so amazing of them, and sad at the same time."  I say, also tearing up a lot.  We just continue standing there hugging, and then we kneel.  We still hug.  We let go of each other until we kneeled though.  We kneeled because we wanted to pay our respects.  We sit there kneeling for at least 10 minutes. Maybe 20, No talking. Just lots of tears, hugging, and a little bit of praying to thank them for giving their lives willingly. Once we got done with that, I nod to myself, as I admire the statue of the 32 men. I feel so much pride, and I'm not even from Texas. But Texas is a part of my life because I have Conan and Now Ashley in my life. And I just had no idea. About how 32 men just did it. There was no war or anything. They created their own war in a way. Such brave men. Nobody called war.  I can see why Texans are so proud!  And touched!  I know I am!  After a while of being in front of the statue, we went into the building.  In it, there were Flags, and also a hanging light, with 32 light bulbs!  Very beautiful. And, they also fought on the grounds of The Alamo! Where the building is now placed! They did not want to give up Texas, to The Mexican Army. The Texans wouldn't surrender. After that, there was an outcry of "Remember The Alamo!" Which encouraged other Texans to fight for their state. They say the border Between U.S. and Mexico would most likely look a lot different if those Texans hadn't had the last stand towards the fight with Mexico.  So it is a very sad, but powerful, proud moment in History, that I feel like more people need to hear about. We spent 2 hours there, learning all about it from the tour guides. Before leaving, we placed the wreath with the other wreaths. We kneel again, and bow our heads before leaving. We head back to Ashley's house. It was around 2:30 that we left. So we got home at 5:00.  Because there was a slight bit of traffic, and we stopped to grab food. We just went to a fast food place.  We decided to dine in.  We decided on Getting Whattaburger.  I got a Mushroom Swiss cheeseburger, with greasy Grilled onions, and mayonnaise, Tomatoes, and a really interesting special sauce spread.  It has a basil taste to it.  I got a side of French fries.  I got my Fries with Queso cheese on top.  Conan got a Texan style burger.  It has slightly spicy cheese on it, like I think it was pepperJack cheese.  And a ketchup with a kick to it.  And inside the mustard, they mixed in some jalapeño pepper seeds.  He can stand some spice.  He's grown up in Texas.  He's used to some spicy heat.  It was kind of mild.  I tried it.  So I know.  And Ashley got a Black Bean burger, with Avocado, Tomato, Ketchup, Lettuce, and a special spread.  We had a nice time talking and laughing.  We of course got some milk shakes.  I got a strawberry and chocolate swirl.  I actually added some chocolate shavings and strawberry bits in it!  It was SO good!  And Ashley got the chocolate and Banana Milkshake.  Conan got a Chocolate S'mores milkshake! 
     Now that we are back home, we sit ourselves down in front of the TV and watch Spongebob Squarepants.  One of my favorites came on!  The Christmas special!  The clay animation one!  It's so cute!  I look forward to watching it every single year!  And it's one long episode.  Instead of 2 11 minute episodes, it's one 23 minute long episode. We let the babies watch Spongebob with us. And then we lay them down to sleep for the night. We stay up for a while longer watching more episodes of Spongebob. Then we decide to go to bed.

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