The 1960s in words, song and pictures

We visited the LBJ Library today. This was my first tour of a presidential library and I expected a lot of dry documents under glass. What we got instead was a chronology of LBJ's life juxtaposed against LBJ's time, starting from around 1918 and moving forward. It was historical and personal, with nary a dull document in sight. Of course, it was the 1960s that stood out. I did a quick trip through November 1963, and moved on to his presidency, which was fraught with unpopularity. LBJ was the anti-hero to those of us opposed to the Vietnam War. It may be in part that the library presents those years more favorably to LBJ but it was also a long time ago and easier to understand LBJ's position in retrospect. He was, in my mind, the second to the last president who considered himself a public servant, with Carter being the last. The last portion of the exhibit is a 10 minute 1960s retrospective, including words and a video image of the plane carrying LBJ and his family away from Washington DC. His words are that he hoped people would understand that he tried to do something, to do his best. His voice bespoke humility, that lost state of consciousness. LBJ died five years after he left office. Mrs. Johnson is still alive and living in Austin, age 95.

I took a restorative yoga class at Yoga Yoga and once again was presented with a cup of chai tea after class. This is a nice tradition. The yoga studio has at least two rooms where yoga is being conducted. There is even a receptionist!

We had dinner at Ruby's bbq. I had my first piece of sweet potato pie, which looks exactly like pumpkin but tastes much less spicey. I had smoked chicken and cole slaw in vinagerette dressing.

Call me silly, but I felt sorry for the bats (see Kathy's blog). Spectators shined lights into the bridge, people wore funny hats, there was a booth with bat information. It was a little like the gay pride parade. The bats left the gray bridge at gray dusk and I was able to see them in gusts (gray gusts). They didn't fly in formation or do any kind of tricks whatsoever. I salute them.

Tomorrow we are off to Galveston, where everyone says it will be hotter and muggier. We have a room overlooking the Gulf.

Peggy