Freddie Fender

Yesterday Brenda and I went to South Padre Island for the night.  Our friend, Carol, called and invited us down.  We were waiting for hotter weather, but she assured us the day was going to heat up so we went.  We stayed in a Super 8 hotel.  It was $42 a night with tax.  We walked along the beach for a bit.  It was pretty warm when the sun came out.  There were quite a few people out and about.

   School is out and there were families there for the break.  A week before our hotel room would have been $30/night, plus tax.  For supper we went to Coconuts.  At Coconuts you can have a hamburger for $1.  They supply the catsup, mayo and mustard.  You can bring your own trimmings, such as pickles, tomato, onion, etc., which is what Carol did.  You must stay and eat in.  At 5 pm they serve free bacon.  They bring a basket of bacon for two and when that is gone they bring you more bacon.  They will continue to bring bacon until you say that is enough.  So, who does not like bacon?  That is Coconuts in the photo below.



Coconuts

After eating with friends, we went to hear Leslie sing at Palm Street Pier.  Some friends from the  past joined us.  I first met Don and Donna on my last Texas trip.  Donna was my line dance teacher.  What a nice surprise to be able to visit with them again.   It was a fun evening filled with music, dancing and laughter. This one man danced with Brenda.  He was a real clown and I laughed through their entire dance.  Oh, oh....next it was my turn and then Carol's.  He was so funny.  He kept changing the steps (on purpose) and said that life is too short not to have fun.  He would stop and say, "Wait for it, wait for it" and then go on to a completely different dance mode.

The next morning Brenda wanted to luxuriate in the hotel room, so I went to visit Carol, Bob and Mark.  We decided we would go to the Freddy Fender Museum in San Benito.  I had tried to find the museum twice before, but no one knew where it was. Freddie Fender's picture is on the water tower and you can see it from the freeway.  I picked Brenda up, while Carol and Bob drove in their truck.  When Brenda and I arrived in San Benito we stopped and asked where the museum was.  No one we spoke with really knew for sure, but the store clerk I spoke with said there was a museum in town and drew me a map. It was there.

There were 3 museums in one.  One part told of the early settlers in that part of Texas.

One part of the museum told of the history of the type of music that became popular in that area.  San Benito at one time had a recording studio.  Many of the musicians played conjunto music.  This was an accordian style of music.  The halls were lined with photos of famous Tex-Mex musicians and some old accordians.  We had a guide who explained the history to us.  The third part of the museum was dedicated to Freddie Fender.  There were photos of a young Freddie, some of his guitars, his motorcycle, his cowboy boots, his suit, and his awards. 

A young Freddie and his brother, Jose.

We were extremely lucky that Freddie Fender's brother, who works there one day a month, was working when we arrived.  He had brought some of his personal video collection of his brother and we watched the videos while he spoke of his brother.  Freddie never forgot where he came from.  He was extremely poor while growing up. As an adult, Freddie was caught with two marijuana cigarettes and was sentenced to five years hard labour in prison.  He was released after 2 and a half years and made a comeback.

 His brother, Jose, was the last of the children to be born and was given to another couple to raise, so he did not grow up with Freddie.  But the family did stay  in contact as adults and resumed their relationship.  Freddie passed away in 2006. 

We were really glad that we had stopped to see the museum.  It was well worth it.  We tried to find his memorial in the graveyard, but again could not find it, so another day perhaps.

It is supposed to be chillier the next couple of days, so a good time to catch up on laundry, letters, etc.

We saw gasoline for $3.05/gal and Brenda said she saw it for less than $3/gal., so prices are falling.

Keep warm y'all.