Where is the place you would return over and over again if you could?
I have been blessed to travel to some amazing places in my lifetime.
Faraway places like Aruba, Austria, Hawaii, Hungary, Norway, Romania, and Ukraine.
Awe-inspiring North American places like British Columbia, the Grand Canyon, Lake Tahoe, the Smoky Mountains, and Yellowstone.
I’ve covered Texas from east to west and north to south.
Some places I’ve been to more than once and some places I’d like to return if I could.
Memories multiply as I think of the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of those places.
But what I remember most is experiences and travel companions.
I spent a good portion of last week in meetings in San Antonio. I made sure to eat at two places that I’ve been visiting since February of 1980 when, as a senior at Monahans high School, I participated in the Texas All-State Choir.
Casa Rio has been serving up Mexican food on the river since 1946. My first visit in 1980 was with our MHS assistant choir director, James Coldewey, and a couple of elementary school music teachers whose names have left me. I had the Deluxe Mexican Dinner that evening in 1980 and have had it again every time (except one) I have returned for the past 43 years. I’ve eaten better Mexican food in a lot of places, but I’ve never eaten Mexican food that means more to me.
On the last morning of my trip last week, I walked from my hotel to Schilo’s German Deli, San Antonio’s oldest restaurant (1917) for breakfast. Ken Mills, MHS choir director, took me there for breakfast on a February morning in 1980. Mr. Mills, through choir travel experiences, introduced this not-very-traveled and seldom-eating-in-restaurants boy to Chinese food and manicotti—things I was not likely to ever have with my family.
Mr. Mills influenced my life in significant ways—even leading me to get a degree in music with a special emphasis on choral conducting. I ate a potato pancake in his honor last Friday and thanked the Lord for him.
Memories.
Gratitude.
Thirty years ago I wrote a song called “Take Me Back” that celebrated memories of listening to my Grandmother share God’s word with me, camping with my dad, marrying my Sweetie, celebrating the birth of my kids, and giving my life to Jesus.
The refrain:
“Take me back to the places that now seem so near. Take me back to the places that I hold so dear. I can go to the place where my faith had its start if You take me back, Lord Jesus, in my heart” (From the album “In the Family Way” © 1993 That’ll Preach Ministries).
So, here’s my question again: where would you return if you could?
What keeps you from returning in your memory?
Who made it special?
How will you thank God today for that memory?
Be amazing today, my friend.
