The Art of a Road Trip: Towards the Light, Water and Community Created Intentionally!
Imagine driving 5 hours one way from Austin to Houston, and another 3 hours back to drop off friends to their respective homes in Temple, then, Austin.
It might sound crazy, yet it is so endearing to find families coming together, travelling miles and hours at a distance to celebrate other family members’ birthdays. Travel distance has become irrelevant as hearts and souls want to celebrate the birthdays of 5yo Max and his 50 yo father, David. Cindy, the mother, worked days and nights preparing all the food from scratch, baked brownie to form a layered birthday cake, and of course lechon.
Max has a brother, 2 years older than him, Ollie. When Max and Ollie saw their Uncle Chong, they both jumped to embrace him and warmly expressed: “Our favorite Uncle Chong!” He hands them pencils which he bought at the Capitol in Austin and Nutella jars with their names printed on the label, making them jump some more with joy.
Ollie said:”I have a happy family. I am very lucky!” Imagine knowing that at age 7. Ollie then embraced his mom, “isn’t that true, Mom?”
A lively group sang Happy Birthday and Max was visibly happy who told his mom how he loves the icing. David opened a retro fridge filled with drinks and hands a Dr. Pepper to a beautiful 13yo Allie, whose eyes sparkled with joy as she said hi to everyone at the dining table. She got her favorite drink which David, the host, remembered to buy for her. Allie is Filipina and David is Caucasian – a harmonious encounter of two different races.
After, a group started karaoke singing, while several guests gathered for a group photo. They posed laughing as they lifted one keg to distinguish oneself.
As each guest came in, they warmly hugged each other and each family had an entrée contribution, generously prepared, to add to a generous buffet of dishes that Cindy prepared for all.
It was our time to drive back to Austin, another 3 hour drive, after being with a very warm, welcoming, grounded community built on love, sharing, harmony and joy!! Everyone is seen!
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At Seafood City in Houston, Texas
I saw two lechons in one day, one at Max and Ollie’s and another at Seafood City. A small cochinito was wheeled into a food court where fish balls, isaw isaw, grilled corn, camote cue and prepared entrees were offered for sale. Ka ching, ka ching, the cash register was non-stop.
This is a newly opened Seafood City, where we travelled to, 40 minutes each way, and others are willing to drive even more distance to stock up on their favorite comfort foods.
I watched a woman with her Boba and champorado, eating a barbecue stick, while watching TFC on her smart phone. She was comfortably eating alone, with the background noises of her kababayans speaking tagalog, visayan and other dialects. This, while sharing tables with strangers eating bento boxes of longanisa and eggs with rice, or tapa.
It makes for a transient community of fellow Filipinos eating familiar comfort foods. A baker nearby was wheeling out fresh bread, also known as pandesal.
Produce is fresh, while the fresh blue crabs were sold at $5.99 a pound. Folks came before ten am, as choice favorites quickly run out. Clerks were constantly restocking shelves.
This is a humongous space, Ala Costco in size, but curated to carry pan Asian foods, raw and unprocessed, baked and cooked, including curries, and Thai sauces.
Texas star is an appropriate symbol of this state for they are warm, friendly, and kind. Men held doors open for me, a stranger to them.
Gas is at $2.79 a gallon, while we pay an exorbitant $2.00 more in California, at $4.79 a gallon. One tank of gas is at $30, which gives us more dollars to spend for an evening meal: steaks, burgers and chicken dinner for five is surprisingly affordable at $134.00.
This is where new homes are priced at $300,000 to $800,000 for 3 bedroom house. The state has signs on freeways that declare camping in public properties is unlawful.
As to jobs, for example, at a large retail store, Buc-ee’s, job openings are displayed in a banner from cleaning staff, cashier to store general manager. When a friend nurse moved from Florida to Texas, their hourly rate increased, and after a year, were able to buy their first home.
I told my host, Hydee, that I like the fact as she succeeds and lifts her boat, the surrounding boats of her community are also lifted up!