on the road again

the hubs is on vacation this week so we decided to take a little overnight outing. I usually get to choose the vacation destination. but this time he suggested Booked Up in Archer City, Texas. not one to rain on his parade I said sure.

we love to take driving vacations. it is a lovely time to catch up. talk about everything. or nothing at all. and during this just short of 5 hours in the car we enjoyed each others company immensely. I learned that he wished he had taken flying lessons during his college career - as they were offered as an elective at Purdue University. you would think after 32 years of marriage I would have known that at some earlier point. but better late than never. I love the fact that there are still new things to learn after all these years together. but I digress.

Archer City has four warehouse spaces filled with books. Larry McMurtry (author of Last Picture Show, Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment and more) has opened these storefronts that are literally filled wall to wall, floor to ceiling with books. every shape and size. content and character. and to my delight, the hubs was not disappointed. he found a set of Lincoln biographies by Carl Sandburg. a book written by the lady in waiting to the Empress Dowager, who ran China in the early 1900's. and a book entitled Unvisited Places of Old Europe purchased simply because of the personalization 'To my dear Coleman. Whose place in my heart is very large and whose friendship is very sweet to me. Octavia', dated December 26, 1921. charming. romantic. endearing. traits books and husbands share.

the second day of our adventure was mine. an upscale antique furniture store in Hico stole my heart. a charming photograph of a man with two dogs taken by a photographer in Camberley, UK (where we lived for a while) was sentimentally snatched up. and such nice folks at the register. true Texas hospitality.

the hubs is a good guy. he patiently takes me on adventures. pokes around in dusty shops. smiles when I get excited unearthing treasures. it gave me great pleasure to return the favor.

'there is no such cozy combination as man and wife.'