On Saturday, April 8, 18 TIAA members traversed 40 miles of the Bluebonnet Trails viewing the wild flowers that were still visible in our warmer-than-usual spring. We ended up at the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival and spent three enjoyable hours visiting arts and crafts booths, sampling wine, eating and listening to live music.
Six TIAA members/spouses drive their own cars 600 miles and met in Terlingua, TX. We spent the next few days visiting and hiking around in the Big Bend National Park, walking thru the Fort Davis National Historic Site, looking across the Rio Grande to Mexico and viewing the night skies at the McDonald observatory in west Texas before driving back home.
Not even 3" of rain and an Arctic cold front kept 17 curious Dallas Cowboy's fans (and one Philadelphia Eagle fan) from enjoying a 90-minute walking VIP tour of this state-of-the-art athletic facility where 'The Boys' train and work. We saw the three football fields (one outside with natural turf, one outside with artificial grass and a white spot for Jerry Jones' helicopter and one indoor just outside their training room.) One field goal on each field is smaller than normal so the punter can practice at a smaller object than will be at a regular game. We also
On Wednesday, May 3, twelve of us met in Oklahoma City to spend a few days viewing the landmark OKC National Memorial (once at night and again the following day). Touring the interactive museum, covering the devastating April 1995 bombing honors victims, survivors, rescuers and all affected by the Alfred P. Murrah building tragedy, was emotional, interesting and informative. We also visited Bricktown for dinner one night and took an entertaining, private cruise through the heart of the OKC entertainment district on the Bricktown Water Taxi.
The new Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights museum will be open and ready for visitors soon so we need to drop by and tour the facility. This is an immersive, interactive journey unlike any other -- unforgettable doesn't begin to describe the experience. It covers events that changed our world, in a voice that is intimate and personal. The exhibition highlights the role of world leaders, and also the men and women who found the strength to endure the unimaginable and accomplish the extraordinary.
