TEXAS AGAIN

 Despite our vows to follow cooler weather, we have returned to Texas this summer,  this trip necessary  to celebrate the life of my brother, Joe Koke.  

 

He passed away at age 83 from a vascular dementia that had robbed him of, well, of him.  Half a decade or so ago, the world seemed to become unpredictable and confusing  to him. He would constantly ask if we were real. We would assure him that we were and then  hope that whatever world he newly navigated was kind to him.  His death is sad, and a loss to the world,  but it is mostly  a missing thing for us, when you will miss someone enough to leave a hole in your heart.

This picture is of my nephew Jeff Koke and his sister, my niece, Jacqueline Clark listening to their older brother Jak Koke deliver a heartfelt and authentic eulogy. (You can read it on Substack)

My brother's eldest child, Jak, is behind the podium with the enlarged photo of their dad, my brother, in the center of the frame.  Joe will continue to have a powering and large presence in our lives even though he seems to be shown fading away.

Some breakfast before- and dinner- after gatherings.  This is my brother's family -- scroll to the end to see who is who.

Our older sons at the reception:   Son #2, Matt and Son #1 John.

John's wife Georgia sat with Wesley at our breakfast before the memorial mass.  She was very gracious when Wes 'wet' her dress.

 A little lead time on this trip let us better explore a couple of the towns on the Texas Gulf Coast that we have previously just briefly road-tripped: Aransas Pass, on the mainland side of Redfish Bay and Port Aransas on the barrier island (Mustang Island) side of Redfish Bay.  Aransas Pass sits on the shore of, and gets its name from, a passage of water that connects Corpus Christi Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.  

I read lots of plans to make the small harbor in Aransas Pass a big deep water port, but they all ended in misadventure, and now its a small port for shrimp boats, etc.  The downtown of Aransas Pass is not very lively or enticing, and mostly we'd recommend a pass on Aransas Pass. 

The exception that proves that rule is The Seven Vega, a ship we spotted docked next to the ferry terminal in Aransas Pass.  A little Internet research told us it is designed to install "subsea flowlines and pipelines in water depths up to 3,000 meters."  It was built in the Netherlands and sails under an Isle of Man (United Kingdom) flag.   We were both fascinated by this ship, for sure.  Would have toured it if we could have done so.

A drone photo from its parent company Subsea 7 shows it in action.  The center reel on the ship is much easier to see than in  the picture I took from the road.  The flat disk on the bow that looks like a reel is a helipad.

Several small ferries operated by the State of Texas provide a free 10 minute trip across 1/4 mile of water to move you and your vehicle from Aransas Pass to the city of Port Aransas on Mustang Island.  We enjoy this transportation, but have to mention that on Sunday afternoon the line of cars waiting to get from Port Aransas to Aransas Pass was unacceptably long.  It is possible, for a few more miles and a little traffic, to drive south, cross the JFK bridge into Corpus Christi and take all surface roads north, back to Aransas Pass.

This picture is from the Port Aransas web site.  Our experience is not of a lone crossing like the one shown here, but of several ferries crossing at the same time.

We chose the surface road option once just so we could cross the fabulous New Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi at night.  The red in this photo, taken through our windshield, was the true color when we crossed.

Unlike Aransas Pass, Port Aransas has some things to say for itself.  The Leonabelle Turnbull birding center is one.  I wish I could say I took this picture (or even had the talent to,) but I didn't. It is a Roseate Spoon Bill featured on  their web site. The birding center is in its flyway.  The center has a lovely boardwalk with an observation tower and lots of other birds -- great spot if the weather isn't too hot.  At the right time of year, you might see a whooping crane.

  Port Aransas has a lovely town beach on the Gulf of Mexico, a few fishing piers, a good beach shopping area should you want one, and some nice restaurants. 

Although not in this picture, our step-granddaughter Laura had a good time playing with these kiddos digging in the sand:

We always compliment a restaurant where we can get a great vegan meal -- in Port Aransas that's Virginia's on the Bay: 

This place had fabulous food and fabulous views of shipping traffic in the pass: 

There's lots of fishing possibilities in Port Aransas, among them fishing boat excursions and the rentals of all sorts of boats.  

A short drive gets you from Port Aransas to Mustang Island state Park (good camping) and a little farther south to  North Padre Island National Seashore (great camping). 

The best part of Aransas Pass, Port Aransas and a bit of Corpus Christi was meeting our son Mark and his family in a very  windy Aransas Pass in the week before heading to Austin and then on to San Marcos for my brother's memorial. 

 

We had the privilege of seeing our newest grandson change from an infant to an active baby right before our eyes.  He can't walk, can't talk, but this kid has it goin' on!

One day his sister Laura demonstrated the fine art of getting toes in your mouth and another day had long hours of great fun in the pool at the hotel.Here's some pictures:

Hotel Fun

Bill and I spent lots of windy, early morning parking lot hours strolling with Wes.

Texas State Aquarium in North Corpus Christi 

We celebrated Amber's birthday at Doc's Dock Bar, located under the JFK bridge that transports cars from the mainland of Corpus Christi over the Laguna Madre to the barrier island that is home to North Padre National SeaShore and Port Aransas.

 Bill and I love a great doc bar, like this one, with live music and out door seating to enjoy the water, the wild life and the view.  These pelicans are just waiting for fish scraps from the chef.

 

Doc's has a western view flat and far enough to watch the sun set.  (Remember that the Texas Gulf Coast faces east).

WOYAYA

Here's my brother's family gathered at Herbert's Tex Mex restaurant in San Marcos, TX after Joe's celebration of life.   My brother lived most of his adult life in San Marcos, home of Texas State University, where he was a full professor for many years.  This was one of his family's favorite restaurants.   Addie Guiterrez snapped this selfie and we have her permission to use it.   I'll do my best to label the folks in it.  

Around the table, starting at the left:

• Addie And Carson, partners in life.  Carson is Jeff's son and my brother's grandson.  
• Jak is next to Carson and is my brother's eldest son.  Missing is his wife Karawynn.
• Barbara and Jeff are next.  Jeff is my brother's second child and the father of Alex and Carson and the husband of Barbara.  Alex is missing from the picture, she couldn't stay for the dinner.  
• Next is me (Joe's sister) and my son Matt.  He's Joe's nephew,  cousin to Jak, Jeff and Jacqueline. Missing is Matt's wife, Katy.

On the other side of the table, starting from the far end

• Bill Miller, my husband and Joe's brother in law 
• Bill Clark, Jacqueline's husband, and brother-in-law to Jak and Jeff is next.  Bill is Joe's son-in law.
• Bonnie, whose last name I don't know, is a life long friend to Jacqueline, and is sitting next to her.
• Jacqueline Clark, my brother's youngest child, sister to Jak and Jeff is next.  She is the wife of Bill Clark.  She's my niece.
• The two women at the near end of the table and Claire and Michaela Koke.  The are Jak's daughters, and nieces of Jeff and Jacqueline and my grand nieces.  They are Joe's granddaughters.
• Missing are three of my sons, all Joe's nephews. Michael, who could not attend, Mark who took baby Wesley home, and John and his wife Georgia who attended the memorial, but had a flight from San Antonio and needed to be on their way.

This picture has scared me (or anybody) -- I am the oldest Koke in this family unit now.  Astonishing!