My mom and I left on Saturday for McAllen. We flew from Muskegon to Detroit to Dallas to McAllen. The temperatures all week were in the 60s, which was much nicer than 12 degrees, which we had here.
As soon as we got to Texas, Beulah drove us around the town. We dropped off her dog, Missy, at her friend, Kitt's house. We got to see the trailer they rented last year. She wanted to show us this restaurant called Pepe's that is the place for the young people, but it closed at 6 p.m. We had a heck of a time finding it in the dark. It is right on the Rio Grande River. So, then we decided to eat at IHOP. Grandpa isn't doing too well. His health is ok, but his mind isn't there. Plus, he gets very tired and doesn't want to do much. It is sad to see him this way, as he was always full of energy and always on the go. The first day we were there, I noticed such a difference. He tended to wander around, get ornery, etc.
Sunday, we drove over to South Padre Island, as I wanted to see that. It is narrower than I expected. There is a beautiful bridge you go over. We stopped at the Visitor's Center and got some reading material. They have a free shuttle that stops at different places on the island, so we took that around. It wasn't too busy on the island as it was in the 60s and breezy.
The time to go there is during spring break in March when all of the college kids are down there. But, it gave us a chance to see the area. We also stopped at this lighthouse that is on the other side of the bridge in Port Isabel. We had lunch at this Treasure Restaurant and it was delicious.
Grandpa didn't want to eat anything for lunch. That is unlike him to do that, too.
My mom lost these clip on things for her glasses while we were in Port Isabel. We looked all over the restaurant thinking they were there. On our way out, we looked and grandpa wasn't there. So, then we tried to find him. He had wandered back to our table looking around for those glasses. He doesn't tell you he is going back to the table, he just wanders. That is scary.
On Monday, Beulah took us to the local mall while she went China painting. The mall has every store you can imagine. I got a leather jacket for $99 from Dillards and then a hot pink leather jacket from Casual Corner for $99 (regular $299) so I was happy with my deals. Then, Beulah picked us up and we went for lunch at Black Eyed Pea Restaurant which is like a Chili's.
We discussed Grandpa's current health. Although his basic health is good, his memory is not. I don't think he has alzheimers, but has the characteristics of it. Beulah said there is no way he should be living alone. She says she notices things he forgets to do everyday. You have to
tell him to change his shirt or shorts, or he wears the same thing every day. He may leave a stove on, forgets to take the dog out, etc. We think it is getting to be the time for him to either be in assisted living or stay with Beulah. Beulah has thought hard about it, but said she would be willing to have Grandpa live with her. She doesn't want to live in his house, as she feels she would be unhappy there, which I agree with. It is a large undertaking to take care of someone, but she wants to do it. We did talk to grandpa about selling his van and he agreed to do that. We can't sell his big yellow car as he wants it to become an antique car. He got it in 1984 and wants to keep it 4 more years. We would like to sell it, but can't at this point. We even asked him if he would like to live with Beulah from now on (even after coming back from Texas) and he said he gets lonely at home himself. We told him if he moved, we would probably have to sell his house, which means he would have to go through all of the appliance parts he has in the garage. Once we clean out his garage, then we will have him go through that when he gets back to Michigan.
It is so sad to see him the way he is, as it isn't like him. He was sleeping much of the day in his lazy boy and watching TV.
On Monday, Beulah took my mom and I over to this Famous brands store as they have everything $16.99 there.
Then, she took us for the ultimate shopping experience. She said we would never
do anything like this before. She said she would give one of us a prize for the best deal. We thought we were going to a place with Ralph Lauren clothes for dirt cheap. We stopped at 'Ropas Usadas' and inside were heaping piles of used clothing that the Mexicans were sorting through one by one. The clothes were smelly and old. We couldn't believe that people actually went through all of that. We got a picture of us in the pile. One guy was using a fork lift to sift through the piles. The Mexican women had masks on while sorting. It was a sight to see. I guess I couldn't imagine living like that. Down in Texas, the women have Ropas parties where they go to these stores and find clothes and wear them in a fashion show.
On Monday night, we went to their clubhouse and had a potluck and some entertainment afterwards. Grandpa got Beulah out there and they danced a few numbers. That is the happiest I have seen him in a while. He was doing well on the dance floor. They stopped going dancing last year as he wasn't doing the dances right and the women would complain. He would say it was the woman's fault.
It is really building up in McAllen. Grandma Gonyo lived there for 6 months while my Grandpa was in the service. She worked at a department store there which was across from the hotel she stayed at. We think the location of that hotel is where the present Renaissance hotel is there.
Beulah drove us to Progresso, Mexico to check that out. We walked over the border into Mexico for 30 cents. The line to get back into the US was long. It was wrapped around the block. It took us around 45 minutes to get through the line. There were security cameras all around and sniffing dogs, but I still think it seems to easy for people to get into the United States. I think the security at the airport is much better than at the border. They look at your drivers license or passport so fast, too.
We got into a rainstorm on our way back and the traffic was backed up for miles. Beulah is sure a good driver for only having one working eye. She had cancer in one eye when she was a kid so has a glass eye. She sure gets us all over town.
Beulah is truly remarkable.
Tuesday night, we went to see the Dutton family in concert at their convention center. They sure put on a good show.
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