October 1 - 15, 2010 - "Oklahoma City Memorial"

We are still at Twin Fountains in OKC, tying up some loose ends at Mom’s house. It should come as no surprise to me that sometimes in “The South” things don’t happen when or as they should. Reminds me a lot of being in Mexico, where everyone lives on “Manana” time. With that being said, now all we have to do is wait for an offer, and get a little R&R.

Longtime friend, Ricardo, called and invited us to his lake home in NE OK for a little fishin’ , R&R, and some much needed, catching up and recanting stories of our younger days when we were invincible(?). Did we catch anything? ABSOLUTELY. In a little over 2 hours, we got into about 20 of these blue catfish, but decided to keep only 2 for dinner. I had the time of my life. Thanks buddy!

CC & I decided since we had been in OKC for all this time, we owed it to ourselves to visit the Oklahoma City Memorial.; a very somber experience indeed.

The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial is a place of quiet reflection. Designed by Butzer Design Partnership, this Memorial honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were changed forever on April 19, 1995. It encompasses the now-sacred soil where the Murrah Building once stood, as well as the surrounding area devastated during the attack.

The inscription on the outside of the 9:01 “gate” reads: We come here to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope and serenity.

Note the smaller chairs that symbolize the children that were lost.

Gates of Time

These monumental twin gates frame the moment of destruction – 9:02 a.m. – and mark the formal entrances to the Memorial. The East Gate represents 9:01 a.m. on April 19, and the innocence of the city before the attack. The West Gate represents 9:03 a.m., the moment we were changed forever, and the hope that came from the horror in the moments and days following the bombing.

Reflecting Pool

The pool occupies what was once N.W. Fifth Street. Here, a shallow depth of gently flowing water helps soothe wounds, with calming sounds providing a peaceful setting for quiet thoughts. The placid surface shows the reflection of someone changed forever by their visit to the Memorial.

While in the Oklahoma City area, we managed two more dining experiences from “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives”. The first being Leo’s Bar-B-Que, which I thought to be so-so. The lunch combo consisted of a rib, beef (brisket), or link sandwich with a baked potato. What the hell is this? Since when did baked potatoes become “soul food”, or for that matter, a compliment to Bar-B-Que. Where is the fried okra? Nowhere to be found on the menu. Doubtful if we return. Make that VERY doubtful.

Another of Guy’s picks in OKC, just happens to be across the street from Leo’s and down a block; Mama E’s. We decided on the two meat with 3 sides, wings and fried catfish with mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and black eyed peas. They were playing the TV episode with Guy while we ate, and it appeared it was programmed to loop. Obviously the fame has gone to their head, IMHO for no reason. The food was overpriced and the catfish was greasy. We won’t be back.

We departed OKC in route to Lake Murray State Park, SE of Ardmore, OK. Very quiet here, compared to the traffic noise at Twin Fountains. We MAY have trouble sleeping, because it is soooooo quiet, AND, CC & I have been fighting an Oklahoma Cold. We’ll lay up here for a few days to get well, and plan our next journey. One thing we know, we will be headed to Childress, TX to cast our ballots, and hopefully restore this country to its rightful heirs; the citizens.

Until next time, take care and stay well.......................