Family Reunion

On the fourth of July weekend the family made a trip down to Kingsville. I had been wanting to go for a while now as I had heard so much about the town but had never visited. It is where Mr. Chapa had grown-up and where he and Mrs. Chapa had lived for sometime before moving around. So, off we were to the Chapa family reunion.


It was Belinda, Stella and I who drove down there from San Antonio. I think it turned out to be a two or three hour drive. Part of the blame goes to my slow driving with the precious cargo and the other goes to the several stop that had to be taken so her highness could get out of the car seat and stretch.

We had been driving for a while and finally made it right outside Corpus when we were getting hungry. There is a restaurant that Mr. Chapa is always telling me about that sells some of the best BBQ around. It’s called Joe Cottons. We have tried to make it out their once before, but were unable to do it for whatever reason. So I figured, score! Maybe this time we can stop and eat.

About the time we are coming up to the place the decision was made, we better keep driving and make it to the hotel so that we can avoid a breakdown. Not by me this time but by Stella. So there we were, driving down the highway. Better than a cool breeze on a warm day, it was a cool breeze on a warm day carrying the smell of BBQ.

From the back of the car comes, “Hey look babe! There it is!”

And there it went. Joe Cottons had come and gone. I knew we were taking one for the team but I didn’t think I would be so bitter about it. Why you ask? Because far enough away from Joe Cottons but not close enough to Kingsville Stella wanted out of the car and she was hungry. I kept hinting that we could turn around and make it for lunch at Joe Cottons, but Stella wasn’t picking up what I was putting down so instead we ate at the first place we could find. A “restaurant” synonymous with road trips: Dairy Queen. Yeah. I was bitter. Did I mention we live down the block from a Dairy Queen?

Anyway, we made it to metropolis of Kingsville. We checked into our hotel room and waited for the other family to arrive. Once there Mr. Chapa recommended I get to the King Ranch store as it would be closed the next day. So I meet him there thinking I would see some artifacts from days gone by. My guess is that on the original King Ranch the woman did not carry purses with crosses bedazzled onto the side of them. Men probably did not walk around in King Ranch golf shirts. And I’m no expert but I would assume a USB flash drive was not necessary then either. But Mr. Chapa and I were on a quest to get something for Stellita as monument to her first trip to Kingsville and her first hotel stay. (For the record a Comfort Inn)

That’s when we found “Bessie.” Stella has gotten many piggy banks, and that’s why we got her a cow bank (work with me here). I didn’t grow up on a farm but I looked online and a longhorn can be a female cow and we can name her Bessie. Mr. Chapa not only bought Stella her King Ranch cow bank but he made a deposit of twenty bucks into the bank on the same day. If you’re reading this Stella and the twenty is now missing from the bank, it wasn’t me.

After we bought the cow I asked Mr. Chapa to drive me around town. We stumbled on a panaderia that quite possibly had the best pink cake around. After that we passed by the house were he grew up. He told me about going to the neighbor’s house and making friends with the kids there who were much younger than him since they had a television and the mom use to always bake cookies.

After that I was dropped off at my car and was suppose to follow Mr. Chapa back to the hotel. Not undermining his knowledge of his home town, but thinking I knew a different way to get back to the hotel I took a wrong turn. Yes, I realized the error of my way and yes I did hear about when I got back to the hotel. However, in that little five minute excursion I think I got to see all of Kingsville—All two square miles of it.

After that it was off to the family reunion. It was a good time with GREAT food. I ate plenty and it made the whole Joe Cotton’s thing become a distant memory. Here are some fun family photos of the event.

The reunion was held at the Knights of Columbus hall. It is the same hall where the Chapa’s had their reception after they were married in the church that is shown below. Their reception however was held in the room right next door.

We left early from the party to keep Stella on her sleep schedule. The next morning we were up bright and early to take advantage of the free breakfast which included Texas shape waffles. Shortly there after we got ready to attend mass that was being held in honor of Mr. Chapa’s father. It was the first time in a while that we had been to church with Stella. I prayed for patience and lots of it.

Just today I had a conversation with a friend that went like this:

           

Friend: “So what’s new?”

Me: “Parenthood.”

Friend: “That’s not new, you’ve been doing it for seven months!”

Me: “Yeah right! Everyday is something new.”

Here is Stellita all dressed and ready to go to church.

At the end of the sermon the priest, who I am not sure was new to the church but I know was not from around those parts, said, “Did y’all understand what I had to say today?” I hum came from the congregation which I am sure if I would have turned around and looked would have been followed with fake smiles and nodding heads.

And then he said, “Good! Cause I didn’t.”

Here she is paying attention to the sermon.

With that, mass was over and it was time to eat. What better place to eat than Whataburger. No it was not the first place that people had selected. It was just one of the few places open. Stella had a costume change and hung out with her cousin Olivia shown here.

Right after we headed home. It was a good trip. I enjoyed learning and seeing where my new family is from. The next day we missed another planned excursion to a restaurant that is suppose to serves good sea food. With one of the best BBQ places around and best seafood places around it’s no wonder people stay in Kingsville.