Old Friends
Last night I went to my Tía Julia Campos’s rosary in Baytown. I saw family and old friends. Her funeral is this morning. I will be there.
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The Chron has a piece on the H-Town Mayor. Here is how it starts:
For his final meeting as Houston mayor on Dec. 20, Sylvester Turner stepped into the City Council chamber donned in a sparkly maroon jacket and red tennis shoes.
Although he knew he would have to lead a contentious meeting, as council members sparred over a slate of controversial proposals, Turner remained upbeat – maintaining that his festive attire reflected his good spirits.
“What an incredible city (Houston) has been,” Turner announced to the chamber. “I go away with a lot of good memories.”
Turner was not dealt an easy hand. When he took office in 2016, he inherited a ballooning pension crisis, and not long after that his leadership was tested by Hurricane Harvey – one of the most severe rainstorms to ever strike the United States.
Here is the entire read: Houston Mayor Turner puts finishing touches on legacy (houstonchronicle.com).
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On Christmas Eve, I stopped by to see old friends who I used to spend Christmas Eve with close to twenty years ago. The featured photo includes Paula Arnold, Shaun Smith, and Commentary. Folks who know Commentary know that Paula and I went out for a while. The photo got me to thinking about lyrics from Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bookends” album that was released in 1968. Here are from the album’s tunes “Bookends” and “Old Friends.”
“Bookends”
Time it was
And what a time it was
It was a time of innocence
A time of confidences
Long ago, it must be
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories
They’re all that’s left you
“Old Friends”
Old friends, old friends
Sat on their park bench like bookends
A newspaper blown through the grass
Falls on the round toes
Of the high shoes of the old friends
Old friends, winter companions, the old men
Lost in their overcoats, waiting for the sunset
The sounds of the city sifting through trees
Settle like dust on the shoulders of the old friends
Can you imagine us years from today
Sharing a park bench quietly?
How terribly strange to be 70
Old friends, memory brushes the same years
Silently sharing the same fears
It was nice to see my old friends.
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Former Astro Michael Bourn is 41 today. Former Astro Craig Reynolds is 71 today. Both were born in H-Town. Michael went to Nimitz High and UH. Craig went to Reagan High, now Heights High School. Happy Birthday Michael and Craig!
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Today will be my third consecutive day going to Baytown. Oh, well.
