By Shannon Williams
In the much-loved play and movie, there is a song about one’s favorite things. I kind of had a week of favorite things and most of them not really planned. One of my favorite things that is near and dear to my heart, is bluebonnets.
The place where Paul and I first met in 1975, was at a youth gathering each spring at Lake Travis. The bluebonnets were always in full bloom and I would see fields of them during the drive down. As we were entering the church camp where our gathering was held, there was a huge open field just covered in bluebonnets and other wild flowers. It was just breathtaking and I could never get enough of it.

When I brought my first home in my 20’s, I planted bluebonnets and then would transplant them or get seeds from them to take to each and every house I lived in. It took a bit to get them going on Crystal Beach and I had to return to my old home and ask if I could dig up some more twice, but they are well established, and each year, my little area of bluebonnet just brings me such joy. I have sent some of the seeds to my son up on the Northwest coast of California. I was there this past weekend and none of them have made it up yet, but we are very hopeful that he can get them going and cover one of the hillsides on his property with bluebonnet and other wild flowers. We will just have to see how that turns out!

So of course my son, Evan, is one of my very favorite things. I worked in Portland, Oregon most of last week, so I took advantage of being on the West Coast and flew into Eureka, California for a short 24 hour visit! It had been a long week. I left on Wednesday and just returned today (Monday evening). In the end, I was in 6 airports and of all the days I was gone, only two of those did not involve me and an airplane. It was a weird trip as I flew out of Bush and back into Hobby. I was very lucky that the hubby was willing to be my personal Uber both times. It was great to see his smiling face in baggage claim today. I am used to just getting off a plane, getting my bags and car and then driving myself home, so it was a treat and again, being picked up at the airport is a favorite thing.

On one of the flights, I got an upgrade to first class! I usually fly good ole Southwest, but the flights were better using United, which is the only way I can get to Eureka. Well, on my trip Sunday from Eureka to San Francisco I got upgrades. Don’t get too excited as it was still a puddle jumper size plane, but it had 4 seats in first class and I got one. The flight was only 40 minutes but I enjoy every bit of that big first-class seat and leg room! So now getting upgraded is a favorite thing also!

There is a little dive café near my son, known as “Gills on the Bay.” It has been there for 70 years and is only open part of the year. I love soup, but not so fond of chowder. This place has a seafood chowder that is the best and of course it comes in a sourdough bowl. Now there is a very famous restaurant in Bay Area, Boudin Bakery, known for their clam chowder in a bread bowl and I have enjoyed it several times, but it does not compare to Gills. It has shrimp and clams, and muscles and crab, and lot of crab, and is rich and just delightful. I was so hoping it would be open and it was!!! So, I had a big bowl of Chowder and enjoyed every spoonful. Since it is a diner, I felt ok breaking off the bread and dipping it into the Chowder, I did not leave a drop or soup and not much of the bread.

I landed in San Francisco and grabbed an Uber over to Oakland for my flight early Monday am. Since my office (the one it looks like I work out of) is very close to the Oakland airport, I met some work peeps for dinner last night. I really did not have a reason to stay and work in the real office and was missing that hubby of mine, but wanted to see my peers and they were kind to meet me for dinner.

Well there is a place in the East Bay that has the best (ok I know I have already said that one soup was the best, but this is soup and that was a chowder) Lobster Bisque. It has chunks of lobster in it and I mean chunks! Yep another meal of soup and sourdough bread!!! The company was as good as the bisque! I returned to the hotel, the third one for this trip and decided to just give myself one more treat and got a Haagen Dazs ice cream bar!!!

To finish off my week of favorite things, my sweet husband had a sonic ice tea waiting for me in the car when he picked me up!!! If you know me very well at all, you know I love soft ice like the sonic has and a good glass of ice tea.

I think I will have to work very hard this week, since I got to enjoy so many of my favorite things in one trip. I hope each of you will take time to enjoy your favorite things and maybe discover some more

OH! One, last favorite thing, I have worked the front gate at Crab fest for several years and I love it and I love Crab fest, all the fun, music, food, shopping and the people. So, sign up to help, invite your friends and family to come down that weekend. Being outdoors with good friends, great food, a cold beer (or ice tea) and hearing music under the stars is such a treat, don’t miss it.

“I simply remember my favorite things and then I don’t feel so bad”
Maya Angelo

[April-12-2022]