Losing the Battle/ Winning the War?

Occasionally in the Law, you stumble across something bigger than the matter at hand.  For example, Watergate started with Bob Woodward at the local courthouse seeing the burglars arraigned.  Like the Elephant in the living room, it seems obvious afterwards.

I had a case about 5 years ago, pretty much in my area of expertise, involving defense of a mechanic's lien filed, and breach of contract.  The subcontractor was suing my client, a general contractor, for about $50,000.  Instead of getting it paid or settled, it dragged on.

When I went to see the property, it was quite an expansive shopping area, probably 50,000 square feet leasable, and only 1 rinky-dink pizza parlor paying rent.

We later have found out that the developer, one Sergio Adame, Sr. was not only washing money from Mexican drug cartels to build this property, but he was also getting paid as an informant for the US Government in the War on Drugs.  He would convince people to turn themselves into the US system, while continuing his shady activities, right in our own backyard.

Now Adame Sr. and his son Adame Jr. have rolled over, and the US government has given them a sweet deal.   In exchange for the government taking the 50,000 sq. foot plaza, which is probably worth $4 -5 million if it were properly leased.

So the little battle in Hidalgo County court paled in comparison to the billions/trillions spent on this War on Drugs.

There's Something About Missy

My sister Elizabeth told me recently "Remember those girls from Onion Creek that I used to play golf with?"  I had to go deep into the memory banks, but yes, I did remember all 3 of them.  "One of them remembered you!"  Cue to go even deeper...

All of this will read like an 80s movie.  It was the summer of 1983, and I had just graduated from Austin High.  One day we heard there was going to be a party in Onion Creek and we decided to go.  No idea who was hosting.  Back then, if you heard there was a party you just showed up and looked for the cars and walked in.  I guess Elizabeth may have told me about it.

At the party I met Missy who I knew a bit from the high school golf community.  As a newly graduated senior I must have had some swagger.  She was probably only 16 then.  We talked for what seemed like a long time and even went to the local store to buy cigarettes with my friends John and Greg.  That was living on the edge!

Sometime later I was talking to her one night on the phone and she said they were having a pool party at her house.  "Maybe I should come over.." I suggested.  "Sure, come over" she said.

Ten minutes later, I was doing 85 mph southbound on I-35 in my dad's 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with my friend Clint.  "Time's a wastin'!!"  Back then, the speed limit was only 55 and 85 was the max speed on most speedometers.  To use the lingo of the time, I "had it pegged".  We got there and had a very chaste evening, swimming in the pool.  I recall that as a pretty nice night.

After then, we saw each other a few more times, but since I was heading to college in Virginia, there was no real future in this.  She saw that, particularly when we had a party at my house and I ended up dead drunk and passed out.  I told you this would be like an 80s movie, with Ben Stiller or Anthony Michael Hall playing my role.

But it took me a lot longer to get over that initial "crush".  I remember we talked on the phone for the next 4-6 months.  She had her own phone line in her room, which was very upscale for the time.  I'm sure when the phone was ringing about 10 or 11 p.m. she knew who it probably was.  This was of course before caller ID and when long distance rates went down after 11 p.m.  I do recall some night nights of talking on the phone.  It probably helped combat some homesickness being over 1,000 miles away.  For that, I'm thankful.

A lot of memories come back, even when I don't even remember holding her hand, much less a single kiss.  In hindsight, it was just two kids in Austin, Texas passing the time together for a summer back in a simpler time.   But that might be the happiest ending of all.

Henry Clay Avenue

A friend of mine just told me he bought a house in New Orleans as a second home.  Since that is a dream of mine to live in a little yellow house in New Orleans, I thought I'd check out his house.  Looking at it on a map, I see that it is just a few blocks over from Henry Clay Ave.

That brought back a memory!  When I was about 21 or so, I long-distance dated a girl from Louisiana that I had met in Austin on New Years Eve 1985-1986.  So this must have been the summer of 1986 when I was visiting.   She had a friend Jimmy who was a "wild and crazy guy".  One night we had driven to New Orleans.  Jimmy had arranged for the two couples to stay at his parent's house, [because they were not there?] 

We ended up in the guest room after a long night on the town and because no one wanted to be alone, I woke up to find that all four of us were sleeping in one bed in the guest room with our clothes on.

The house I remember was very unusual.  It was a large but very old Victorian style home, much different that any home I had ever been in.  We didn't get much of a chance to look around, as I expect we had to clear our of there before his parents found all 4 of us in one bed, 80s movie style!

I can only imagine what I would think if I saw that today.

2011 BMW 535i

Yesterday I traded in my old car for a new one.  The trade process was a seemingly long list of all the shortcoming of the car, the dings, the lack of options, the high miles, the repairs deferred, and so on.  That process can get you down - make you think it wasn't such a good decision way back when.

But I recently read that this is a memory bias.  We recall a bad ending without remembering the good things that happened while we were in the present.

So I was thinking of all the good things since March 2013:

Love at first sight:  I thought the black exterior and cinnamon interior was a great combo.  Still do.

The performance all around was excellent: acceleration, top speed, handling, ride

The brakes saved me on at least 1 occasion: it really would stop on a dime

The car protected me well in a rear end collision.  The headrest had an airbag that kept me from whiplash.

Everybody loved the GET X license plate.  That will be kept.

I recall driving on SH 130 to Austin at 90 mph sustained in the 85 limit.  That's an intense experience.
You've got to keep the momentum going.

I always like the 5 series.  I'm glad I got to drive it for so long.

I learned a good amount about the maintenance.  It was mainly trouble free during most the time I had it.

Other cars show it respect on the road - not much tailgating, cutting you off.

I never received any ticket in the car!

15th Congressional District of Texas

Amazing how few people in the Rio Grande Valley know our political history.  My district, the 15th, I I knew something about.  But I learned some new information recently.

The district was created in 1903 and John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner was the first representative.  H was from Uvalde.  Hence the creation of Garner State Park.  That is 250 miles away.  Can you imagine how large the district was back then?

After he became Vice President, the next represtative was Milton West of Brownsville.  Our Turley family know the various Milton West, Jr. and III going forward.  In fact, Ed was supervised as a young attorney by attorney Milton Jr. aka "Mickey" West at the Andrews Kurth Campbell and Jones law firm in Houston.

Thereafter, was Lloyd Bentsen who everyone still remembers like he was here yesterday.  All the various Bentsen names are still going strong here. Bentsen Road, Bentsen State Park, Bentsen Palm, etc.

Thereafter, Joe Kilgore, who later became one of the initial board members of Texas State Bank.

In 1965, there was a sea change and the 85% Hispanic majority finally was able to elect a local, Kika De La Garza who served for 32 years.  Then Ruben Hinojosa served another 20 years.  Now Vicente Gonzalez is our Congressman. 

Judging by history, Congressman Gonzalez, elected in 2017, should be around for a while.   As historian Robert Caro put it, "Once Texas elects a Congressman, they tend to keep him there a long time."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas%27s_15th_congressional_district#List_of_representatives

Year End 2018

Tomorrow is December 31 and it has been a good 2018.  It certainly flew by.

I did a lot of cool things.  Walked my daughter down the aisle for her wedding.

Went to the Mall of America

Tried to go to Fargo ND for my 50 state quest.  Made it to St. Cloud, MN due to snowstorm

Attended my second Yoga retreat  in Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Finished my second book Always Patty in September

Saw Jerry Seinfeld in Madison, Aaron Watson in Austin, George Strait in Las Vegas, Randy Rogers Band in Pharr

Played in the Sundowner golf event, the Fall Member Member  and the Ano Nuevo golf tournaments.

Kate Turley * my mother * 1938-2019

* My remarks * January 22, 2019

A friend of mine recently relocated from Texas to  Panama actively seeking a better quality of life for her family.   Before moving, she had authored a book in which she encouraged the reader to Choose Joy.

Her theme was that there are certain things unique to all of us that bring us Joy.  And to experience that Joy, we have to Live Intentionally.  

I believe that Kate did live her life with Intention.   Kate always had a smile, a pleasant demeanor, and an easy friendliness with so many.  And who can forget  her unique sense of style?  But all of these good characteristics did not happen by chance.  She deliberately put herself out there to reflect the light and beauty that she saw in the world.

Because Kate certainly appreciated the beauty in life.  And to truly take in that beauty requires a seriousness, a focus, a desire to eliminate distraction.   We all remember Kate as a good listener.  Kate was a serious book reader.    When Kate looked at a work of art, she could ponder it in silence.  Those skills require an outward-facing focus. 

One specific memory I have is that Kate would regularly go to the symphony or the opera or the theater by herself.  She would usually go at the last minute.  Even if the performance  were sold out, she would nearly always be able to buy a single ticket.  I believe she liked seeing the performance by herself  because she was able to truly focus on the performance and take it in.    She would even say that if it got too intense, she would just close her eyes.

She had that purposefulness  in her everyday dealings as well.  She would listen attentively in the discussions she was part of.  She asked questions of others to keep the conversation moving forward.  And she never as far as I know held a grudge against anyone.   I believe that led to an ever-widening circle of friends, starting from the time she was very young growing up on Wickersham Lane here in Houston, and continuing forward for many years.    All of you here today can count yourselves in that large circle.  

On one of the last times we talked, she told me about a conversation she had with her mother Pearl Elledge late in Pearl’s life.   Pearl told her “I’ve gotten everything I wanted out of life.  I had a great husband.  I had two great children.  I’ve had a nice home and garden.”

I didn’t realize it at the time, but she of course was telling me that was her story as well.  She got everything she wanted out of life.  In that respect she Chose Joy. 

I am sure that her parting wish to you would be to: 

“Go and Do Likewise”