Austin – the Meeting

One of the good things about the extended time I needed to get the trailer repaired is that I got to meet up with yet another Facebook friend!

I met Michelle through a group of like-minded women. Looking at the picture, you might think we had a dress code, but I assure you that this was just a coincidence.

Our first stop on our day together was Mount Bonnell. At 780 feet above sea level, it affords a great view of Austin, which is about 200 feet lower in elevation.

It overlooks the Lake Austin portion of the Colorado River.

I love these old-timey markers with their cool lettering. However, this one is from 1938, which doesn’t seem so long ago. I must be getting old.

Next stop was County Line Barbecue for lunch. It’s been an Austin landmark since 1975, and now they have seven locations in Texas, as well as one in Albuquerque, NM. They also ship ribs all over, just in case you are interested.

Those portions were truly Texas-sized! We were sufficiently provisioned for our next destination: the LBJ Presidential Library.

On the way in, Michelle pointed out the University of Texas at Austin clock tower.  Just in case you are not of an age to remember its significance, it was the site of the first mass shooting that I remember. It took place in August 1966. If you would like to learn more about this sad day, this link will take you to an article.

We approached the library and we were greeted by LBJ himself.

He was a larger-than-life figure!

He was responsible for a lot of legislation and many of the features of our country that we have taken for granted for decades.

I found this display of pens used in signing legislation into law to be inspiring.

There were displays on the main floor, and they were interesting. As we rounded the corner, the floors containing his presidential papers loomed above us. It was an impressive sight.

I enjoyed taking part in this little recreation of “The Johnson Treatment”. He would use his physicality to advantage to persuade people to go along with him. The original photo is in the upper righthand corner of the shot.

Johnson was the first president I remember much about. I was seven when he took office after Kennedy’s assassination.

He was born in 1908 and died in 1973 at age 64. I found that amazing. He seemed so old and now I am only a few years younger than that.

One of the interesting displays were the important events that took place during his life. I posed with the year I was born.

Along with LBJ, this is another of the things I remember from the era. It sure made an impression.

I have a strong memory of watching the conventions with my folks. I couldn’t understand why they kept interrupting Kennedy by applauding during his speech. I thought that was rude – they should just let him speak!

Fun fact: Did you know that there was no vice president when LBJ finished out Kennedy’s term? Hubert Humphrey was his veep when he was elected in 1964.

On the mezzanine there were several pillars with LBJ quotes.

These ideas are refreshing: how a country’s wealth should be used for the benefit of its people.

I especially like this quote. These are the important qualities to have in an elected official.

On the top floor of the library, there is a recreation of LBJ’s Oval Office.

He was always working the phones. He had this slick phone in a drawer that he could slide away.

Speaking of communication, he had three televisions in the office. What a simple life! Three channels – three televisions.

Then, there is the desk and another phone. That man sure believed in reaching out and touching someone!

I also liked this rocker – well, I really liked the stool. What a good idea for a rocker stool!

Lady Bird was also represented in the library. She is important historically because she created the modern structure of the First Lady’s office.  She was the first in this role to have a press secretary and chief of staff of her own, and an outside liaison with Congress.

She was known for her love of flowers. She said, “Where flowers boom, so does hope.”

She worked extensively to protect wildflowers and promoted planting them alone highways. She became the first president’s wife to actively advocate of legislation when she promoted the Highway Beautification Act in 1965, which was nicknamed “Lady Bird’s Bill.”

The White House china reflects her love of flowers. I’ll bet the food would have been even tastier on these plates!

At that point, it was time to head out.

Naturally, we had to exit through the gift shop. I liked what they had for sale.

Before ending our day together, we stopped for a cup of coffee at Thunderbird Coffee.

We helped keep Austin weird – in our own little way. We had the barrista snap our photo.

And then our day together was over.