Dear Friends -

I have realized that "Livin' The Dream" is not just about the places I have gone and the pictures I have taken. It is about friends, old and new.  It is about memories, old and new.

I would like to tell you a story.  This is something that happened to me yesterday.  I kind of question of whether it was meant to be or just a coincidence, though it doesn't make a lot of difference.  What this story does just makes you realize just how small this world can be.

I was shopping in a local grocery story, in the produce department when an elderly gentleman (probably in his 90s) with a walker asked me if I had every tried strawberries straight from the vine.  He then made the comment that they were so much better and sweeter.

We got to talking and one subject led to another.  I had mentioned that I was born and raised in Southern IL and that I used to raid an old farmers strawberry patch every year.  He then asked me where in IL and I told him near Cairo.

Come to find out he was born and raised in Cairo and of course he knew of Mounds.  This is where the story get pretty interesting,

After graduating high school, he joined the Army Air Corps at the onset of WWII.  By now I am really interested in what he has to say.  I asked him just what he did during the war and he told me that he did something that a lot of people have never heard of.  He asked if I had ever heard of "Flying the Hump."  I'll have to admit that until recently (the past year), that I did not know much.  I had heard about the men who flew the "Hump" keeping supply channels open.  The "Hump" refers to flying over the Himalayas.  Very, very dangerous back then.

I told him of an old family friend from Mounds that also flew the "Hump."  He wanted to know who it was and I told him O. T. Wildey.  Almost immediately he got a little teary eyed and said that they flew together. Neither men were pilots, they were crew members.  He asked how O.T. was and I informed him that I had the honor of visiting with him last July and that he died in Aug or Sep.  He then said that there weren't many left any more.  That is so sad.  Real but still sad.

O.T. never talked about what he did in the war.  We, as the Jackson family, did not know until just a few years ago.  I recently found out that O.T. was a "war hero" in every since of the word.  Aside from receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, he also received the Silver Star.

While this gentleman and were walking and talking, he said that the boss is trying to hurry him along.  He smiled and pointed upward and said not that boss, but his boss of the last 60 years.  I wanted to write this just to show just how small this world really is.  Last summer I posted  picture of O. T.  I would like to re-post.

O. T. Wildey

1923 - 2013

O.T., May you Rest in Peace - I salute you

A few days ago I had the privilege of doing a little "touristy" thing.  I say that it was a privilege because my son Tieg joined me.  At first, I didn't know how it was going to turn out.  I didn't know if he was just appeasing me or that he wanted to go.  I found out rather quick that he wanted to go and learn abut some of the history of San Antonio.  So for that, I thank you very much Tieg for being there.  I really enjoyed the afternoon.

Now to give a little tour and a little history of San Antonio.  There are five missions.  All are located near the San Antonio River (yes, the same river that has the river walk.)  These missions are:

1.  Mission San Antonio de Valero
2.  The mission of Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion
3.  San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo
4,  Mission San Juan Capisrano
5.  San Francisco de la Espada

San Francisco de la Espada

Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas, is the oldest of East Texas missions and was moved to the San Antonio River in 1731 and was remaned San Francisco de la Espada.  Mission Espada is actually the newest of the 5 missions.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Mission San Juan Capistrano was originally San Jose de los Navonis in East Texas.  It was moved in 1730 to its permanent home on the San Antonio River's east bank.

The missions of San Antonio were not only self-sufficient, but they supported settlements and the nearby presidio (fort).  Four of the five missions still perform 2 masses each and every Sunday for the nearby residents.  These 2 missions also still have a Franciscan Monk residing on the premises.

Windcrest, a suburb of San Antonio has been know over the years for their display of Christmas lights and yard decorations.  This goes back as long as I can remember.  Windcrest at one time was quite the upscale neighborhood.

I have not been up and down the streets for quite a few years, until tonight.  Tieg (my son) and his 3 kids made the pilgrimage.  In trying to take pictures of Christmas lights, I find it very difficult.  Not only because of the headlights from all the cars, but because of the twinkling of the lights.  At times the displays are a little blurry.   Here are a few of the displays:

This house is very unique, especially in this day and age.  Once each year they invite people to come into the house, take pictures with Santa and then have cookies and hot chocolate - All Free.  Tyler, age 15 is on the right, Tyson, age 6 also on the right and Jordan age 11 on the left.  Here are a few pictures of the house (I might add that everything in the yard is hand made):

I would like to give you all the first of a tour of San Antonio.  I thought I would go to our world famous San Antonio River Walk to get a few pictures with the Christmas Lights.

Pictures from an amateur does not do the river walk justice.  It is something that needs to be seen in person.

Next are a couple of pictures from the University of the Incarnate Word.  A few weeks ago I posted some pictures showing the inside of their chapel.  The interior is just absolutely beautiful.  I thought I would try to capture the outside tonight.  You will notice near the top of the steeple are 4 statues of Gabriel blowing his horn.

This last picture, even though it might be a little difficult to recognize, is a symbol of a company that my Dad worked for when we lived in Southern Illinois.  And that symbol is a Pegasus, that Secony (not sure I spelled it right) Mobile used so many years ago.
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I have begun to realize that "Livin' the Dream" is more than landscapes pictures. Even though these are memories that I like to share with everyone, the "Dream" is also looking back.

The Alzheimer's Association, San Antonio, has every year in November, a Candlelight Remembrance Service.  November is Alzheimer's Awareness Month.  They have been doing this for the last 13 years at the University of the Incarnate Word Chapel.  The Chapel is over 100 years old and from what I understand about the only upgrades are to make it more modern, such as electrical.

I would like to share with you all the Chapel. To me it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

  
Thank you all so much for letting me share this moment in time with you.