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| August 15, 1981 Garner State Park |
Like many young couples
starting out, we didn’t have much money the first years of our marriage. We
started out with school loan debt and old cars that constantly needed repairs.
Our “vacations” consisted of day trips around San Antonio.
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| August 1, 1981 |
On August 15, 1981, we did our first road trip down FM 337 and discovered Garner State Park. Within a few years, my parents bought twenty-six acres off of the same farm road, but just beyond Leakey, Texas. For Mom and Dad, this natural retreat became their place to plan and dream. After Dad died, grief tangled our visits so much that Mom often wanted to leave after only a few hours. The ghosts of them in their 60s haunted her too much for us to stay that long.
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| Garner State Park 1981 |
When our Escape
Hybrid needed expensive repairs, we purchased a car that didn’t have high
enough clearance to get us over the often ungraded road. Some family members
told us that they’d loan us an SUV whenever we needed to make a run, but that
offer proved hollow, and three years passed between our last cabin trip to one
in May. Although someone had broken into it during our long absence, no damage
was done and nothing was stolen.
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| Liz 1981 |
In November, family invited us to return to Garner State Park to enjoy their new camper. Since David had to work, I almost turned down the invitation. Then I thought of all my wonderful memories of road trips down FM 337.
Returning to my
comfort zone restored my spirit. We even made a side trip, 35 minutes down the
road, to check out our cabin in the woods. On Christmas Eve, we purchased a new
Bronco Sport, and a return to making spontaneous trips down FM 337!
Garmer State Park November 2021
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| Garner State Park November 2021 |
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| Liz Chapman at Garner State Park November 2021 |
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