Family Vacation In Texas & Louisiana from May 4 -14, 1990 (part 3 of 3)

by Rainbow Robin
age 16

Today, Thursday, May 10, 1990, we have been driving to Corpus Christi, Texas. We’re in the car right now. We stopped in this town called Buffalo. We saw a lady there who my mom had gone to junior high with in Arlington. The woman had her 12-year-old daughter with her who she had named Sonya after my mom.

I found out the other day that I am mostly Irish with some French in me, just like I thought, even though I never knew for sure. Gram hates the rain but, Aunt Norma Jean and Brandon like foggy days and rain like I do. Mamaw and Pap Pa (papaw) were both raised in Louisiana. She was born there and his family moved there from the east after they lost their Tennessee plantation during the war. Mimi thinks he may have been born in Arkansas but that the farm was in Tennessee. Our roots go way back in the south I suppose. Although on my Dad's side of the family they lived in New York state mostly after Ireland untill my Grandfather Fox moved the family to Dallas through his job with Kodak.

My Great-great-grandfathers name was Hezikeigh (Ezekiah) Eugene McGough. Pap Pa's name was Minor Leonard. Mamaw is Elsie Mae Gardner. Gardner is the French. Mom suggested that I name my someday son Giles Ezekiah. I kind of like it; I’ll keep it in mind.

Last night, on Thursday, we were supposed to drive to Corpus but it was almost 11:00 by the time we go to Austin, so we stayed at my Uncle Donny’s. I like their family a lot; their house is really comfortable. My cousin Amber Lynn is so cute and sweet. She’s just really gorgeous. She has these deep soulful eyes and sweet, long, thick, dark hair and is full of hugs and kisses. She draws a lot also. She has a book she colors in and wants to be an artist when she grows up. Her pictures remind me of mine when I was younger. Dawn says that Amber and I look alike in our faces.

Last night Mom, Donny and I were up talking. I got to hear some funny stories. I guess Ross has a band too and he wanted to do a jingle for one of Donny’s clients. So he called Donny and arranged it, but the company decided not to use them. Then a couple of months later Rhett decided he wanted to do a jingle also. So, he has his manager call Donny to ask about it. Donny told the manager that he could tell Rhett that he needed to call him if he wanted something from his uncle. That is so funny that Rhett had the nerve to do that but the thing is he probably just never thought about it.

This morning Donovan and Dawn came over for a while. Donovan really is a sweetheart. He has a really nice vibe. Dawn and I really got along well too. We have always been close even though we have always bickered. She is the cousin I feel the closest to.

I was talking last night with Jan about how interesting all my family is. I love my family so much, all of them, all my fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters (that includes you Erica, and everyone else), Aunts, Uncles, grandmothers, grandfathers and cousins. They all are trippy but I wouldn’t ask for anyone else.

I was talking last night about how the brothers are all little caricatures of Pop. All of them are very unique. They all have a little of his traits; more so in some than others. Ed is the intellectual, Randy is clever, Donny has heart, Scott likes to make sure things get accomplished and Jeb has a lot of his mannerisms. Jeb spent a lot of time with him and was with him when he died. Mom says Jeb has a lot of your spirit Pop.

After we talked about that I started thinking about you a lot. Pop, I love you so much. You are the only grandfather that I ever got to know and I never could have asked for a better one. You really brought all of our spirits and energies together like they were meant to be. We’re all here to help each other and you helped a lot. I love you so much; I know you’re with us. Thank you for everything.

Today is Monday and we are on our way home. I am sitting on the plane as I write this. Corpus Christi was nice. We arrived on Friday afternoon. Scott and Mimi were there. We didn’t do much. Mimi took Erin and me to Baubles & Beads. We had dinner with Mamaw, Mimi, mom, Erin & I. It was wonderful.

Saturday Erin and I went Mother’s Day shopping. We got mom one of those pigs that walks, then oinks and wriggles its nose. We go to ride on the same carousel that we rode last time we were here for Christmas.

When we got home Mimi was giving us all sorts of stuff. She gave me one of her cocktail dresses and a formal gown; the white one she had those pictures made in. What a lucky granddaughter I am.

Sunday morning we gave everyone their gifts. Everyone really enjoyed Mother’s Day. We went to the beach with Mamaw, at age 76 it was the first time in her life she had ever seen a beach. Then we all had brunch for Mother’s Day. It was so nice.

When we sent Mamaw home to Louisiana it was also her first time ever to fly on an airplane. Can you imagine?

I wish Mimi would slow down, but she never will because she doesn’t want to. I hope that I never get to be a perfectionist like her. It would stress me out. I bet she would be more stressed out if she wasn’t allowed to be a perfectionist.

That night I got to look at Mom Miller’s scrapbook and one she had made for Pop. All of the things from when Pop was first writing and drawing tripped me out because they were just exactly like any ones I have seen a little kid draw. They were no different because of the time period or anything. Everyone starts and ends. Pops letters and such were so cute. “Mom, can she? Huh-huh? Can she? Mom can she go? Please can she????????????????????? He weighed 9 pounds when he was born.

On the way to the airport Uncle Scott said to me that he was glad that I had grown up. I was always a beautiful person I just haven’t always been able to have the patience to show it in front of my family.

I met a girl, Amy, in the Dallas airport who also goes to College of the Redwoods. That’s how small Humboldt is, you usually see someone you know from there when you are flying home no matter how far away the airport you are at is.