Galveston is not my favorite part of the ocean but it is where I first saw and fell in love with the ocean when I was in my twenties. The ocean has healed my soul more times than I can remember, it is a place that I feel at peace and find a calm that I only experience at the ocean. Maybe because it is impossible for me to see the vastness and not know there is something bigger than all this stuff we call life. So today I find myself back in Galveston and at the ocean edge after being on a road trip in Texas this week. They have done a lot of work and the beaches and area are a lot nicer than they use to be.
I have a history with Galveston which makes it feel comfortable, first place I saw the ocean, first "big" trip I took with a friend and family was here (I was clueless about travel), I brought my oldest niece here as part of her graduation present, left from here on my first cruise with one of my dearest friends and then when I moved to Houston this was the closest route to the ocean. So as I drove over from Austin today I had a flood of memories of my twenty something self and all that she hope for while she lived in Houston. I had not at that time meet a lot of the friends that set in the balcony of my life except for one and I will see her tomorrow night for dinner. Cancer had not made it presence in my life and I had not lost anyone in my direct family, needless to say a lot has changed in the 20+ years since I have lived in this area.
So back to why I am in Galveston as part of this Texas road trip that started out on Monday and will wrap up in Houston this weekend. I came to hear Marine veteran Guy Taylor play taps at sunset in honor of his friend. I heard about Mr. Taylor on Facebook and thought I want to experience this and show respect as well. Unfortunately I found out that Mr. Taylor past in February, this reminded me that life is short and if there is anything we have been wanting to do or say then we need to do so.