One Saint and Three Passengers

Today, while cruising back from a lunch meeting I noticed a grand southern tradition -  "Gettin' your hair done" downtown.  



There was a "saint" of a man that appeared to have taken three ladies to get their hair done and was trying to get them all loaded back in the car without any "do damage".  He was precious.  One gal had a cane, one was leary of the step off the curb and the other was pretty spry, he was a man of patience with the most endearing smile. 

Traffic was buzzin by him; however, the "dualy" heavy duty truck in front of me did the polite thing, slowed down,  and viered into the other lane - which was empty - to allow the "saint" to get them all loaded up.

Of course the encounter ended with the " steering wheel wave".

It's a great day to live in New Braunfels, Texas!

     

When Spell Check Ensures Your Unique?

 Braunfels Schloss (Castle) in Braunfels, Germany - Our Founding City 

 Schlitterbahn Castle - New Braunfels, Texas
Notice the Similarities?

Every time I get to the draft phase of my blog post I spell check.  It just sort of hit me - half of the post is yellow and noted as misspelled.  WHY?

The answer to that question is buried in our unique community. 

New Braunfels?
Schlitterbahn?
Blastenhof?
Surfenberg?
Boogie Bahn?
Wurstfest? 
Sophienburg?
Naegelins? 
Friesenhaus? 
Seekatz?
Volkssport?
Weihnachtsmarkt?
Gruene?
Saengerhalle?
Anhalt?
Freiheit?
Wein & Saengerfest?

You get the idea? So why do so many folks ask where is our German Heritage?  Are you kidding me - it is everywhere!  The above list is the obvious.  This is the tip of the iceberg.  Let's talk street names :

Klingemann
Muesebach
Brandenburg
Bretzke
Dittlinger
Jung
Karbach
Klein
Krause
Kroesche
Rueckle

Drop in the bucket - wow did they get these street names off the ship rosters in 1844?

Moving forward, think last names in the phone book? Pastry names? Folk Dances? Songs?

German Heritage really is everywhere and I promise - spell check will catch them every time.  So I have decided  to embrace my frustrations with spell check and revel in our uniqueness!   

Tschüß! 




   
 

Does your "normal" make you grin?

 Isn't it always about the ice cream!

 My "normal" is grinning ear to ear this week!  Families are out and about in Landa Park, the miniature train has a small waiting line, and my very favorite - cars with floatation devices piled on top and hanging out of windows fill New Braunfels. If you look closely, wildflowers are poking their blooms out of the hillsides and beg for a photo opp.  This is my "normal" and even before I had my current job of Convention and Visitors Bureau Director, these sights always helped me "fill up" my happiness meter.


You see, I am a true believer that the only "high touch" experience left in the world is achieved via travel.  

Dad in Kit Karson Park - three week Road Trip in 70's 

This is a learned belief/joy (normal).  My mom and dad (who you met in a previous post) were my tutors.  I cannot tell you how many historical markers I have read at my father's insistence, of course, this was a welcome and desperate stretch of the legs as we escaped from the Volkswagen pop up camper (despite having our own 8 track player in the back).  Now, did I realize this was my joy then - of course not! 

These were often marathon trips with my folks, two to four weeks long while we zigzagged across the country.  My parents were supper tolerant and usually let me take one or both of my life long BFF's (Sara & Janice) with us.  We had great, awful, and life changing travels together, add in my brothers and their extended family and friends and there is a license for all sorts of "joy" that to this day make me laugh so hard it can bring me to tears.         

The road trip seems to be alive and well with New Braunfels as one of the great destinations that generations of Texans choose to find their "grin". 

Did you "staycation" or did you participate in the annual Hill Country " coastal migration". Seems we are always fascinated with what we don't have in our own backyard.  We are frequent coast visitors
and enjoy the change of scenery, water, surf, and most of all shells.

Doesn't matter where you go - just get out and go; whether you are on a PB&J budget or a steak budget -
See Texas First and find your grin!   

Enchanted Rock Road Trip

Water! Ready, Set, Go!



 Camp Warnecke founded 1918  

As we ready for swimming season, thoughts take me back to my childhood.  Remember when the only thing you wore all summer was a swimsuit?  Is that still possible?  I say yes!  New Braunfels is still home to the best water recreation in Texas.  Some natural, some invented, and some really out of the box opportunities.



Let's really think about how we go to this point.

One of the primary reasons that Prince Solms chose this area was because of the abundance of game and building materials - which are only possible with consistent water supply.  This critical water supply was immediately put to work in commerce.  The water power of the past made New Braunfels a center of trade and the 4th largest city in Texas from 1845-1895.  Those first fifty years secured our place as having the right mix of attributes for commercial and quality of life successes.  Mills of all types took full advantage of the power of water while the healing powers of the water opened the Comal Baths. Following the Comal Baths were Camp Placid, Camp Giesecke, Camp Warnecke, etc... The first bridges across the rivers were here, in New Braunfels.  There was only one place to drive cattle across the Guadalupe and it was also here, in New Braunfels.



First Hotel in Downtown New Braunfels - Guadalupe Hotel
Photo - Institute of Texan Cultures

The traditions of life centering around the waterways of our communities goes back over 165 years. Industry still relies on it, utilities still rely on it, commerce still relies on it, recreation relies on it. We didn't just arrive on the tourism scene. We had our first hotel in 1847.

Water Recreation began in the 1870's.


We have been encouraging guests since 1845 - listen to their own words...

“The area offers excellent land, first rate cedar and oak forests, and water power.” – Oct. 25, 1844 Prince Carl of Solms- Braunfels  

“We are now quite content and happy.  When one gets adjusted, that is, has his house finished, field fenced, and wants to use a third of his time go working, which in Europe one has to, it is better living here, than that of a farmer in Europe.  I have no desire ever to go back, whoever wants to see me must come here; I do not believe that he will regret it.” – Hubert Lux, letter May 1, 1845

Thank goodness those founding fathers didn't say we're here - now pull up the drawbridge.  Swimsuits ready?!   New Braunfels, Texas - Jump In!

"Porchers", Redbuds, Wild Plums, & Mountain Laurels

Seems that overnight the Texas Redbud trees popped into bloom and the Mexican Plum trees have followed, now all we need are the Mountain Laurels (the smell of grape bubble gum fills the air)  and spring will be officially here.  

The Texas Hill Country will "spring" to life shortly after the Mt. Laurels.  Time to get those cameras ready and capture those fields of wildflowers that herald summer! 

This is also an exciting times for all of us "porchers".  Now, "porchers" are folks that live outside as much as possible and in central Texas that activity is most enjoyable during the next several months.  In our neighborhood this takes on front yard porching as we have a lively area with lots of visiting walkers from around town - if you stick yourself in the backyard you will miss all the action!   The races and rallies should return as well, and these provide interesting Saturday morning entertainment as we are on most race/rally routes.  

A full calendar of events to get you out of the house and soaking up some spring sun and cool air can be found at http://www.nbcham.org/cwt/external/wcpages/wcevents/eventsstartpage.aspx - you can even set reminders so you don't miss a thing!

Get out and about, be neighborly, and see Texas first! 

   

  

Is Music the key to Joy?!

The Reader's Digest article title is "For a Long Life, Watch Your Attitude";  that got me on today's topic.   There were lots of great tips on longevity, what I took away from the article was, your ability to find your "joy" in life goes a long way to achieving a longevity.

Referencing finding your "joy" in life; yesterday I heard the Hill Country Chorus perform during a civic club luncheon.  What truly struck me, besides the wonderful harmonies, were the expressions on these gentleman's faces.  They were brilliantly happy with no conscious thought to their joy.

(Now, I know there are lots of you that sing at the top of your lungs when you are alone in your car, and do a little steering wheel drum solo as well.  You know who you are - own your joy!)

Music has always been said to be the universal language of love,

maybe the same can be said for joy. So, I did a little research. 

 In New Braunfels we have over 20 locations where one can enjoy some type of live music year round, we have over 50 churches that all have choirs, bands, and concerts. Our school districts have awarding winning choral and band programs.  We have over the years had as many as 15 or more dance halls, private and public.  The Music Study Club, The Community Band, The Southern Music Camp, Mid Texas Symphony, the lists of musical opportunities/traditions could go on and on. 

The first singing society formed March 2, 1861 was the Germania Gesangverein, with two more to follow in 1861. Think;  have you ever been to any festival in our community that doesn't have music and singing?  The first Saengerfest (song festival) was held in 1853 at Herman Seele's place on the Guadalupe River.  Stefan Heilbig, was a prominent music teacher and musical director. He was a bandmaster and played Wagnerian music in an orchestra conducted by Richard Wagner himself before emigrating to Texas in 1868. 

So tap your toes, belt it out, and have some fun, you're are carrying on the traditions of a "long" line of hardworking folks that really knew how to find their joy! 

           

The adress is "Texas, to the German Colony of New Braunfels"

Excerpts from a letter written by Christina Reick, May 10, 1845.  The only letter by a woman of the first founders of New Braunfels, Texas. 

Heritage Village Museum of
Texas Handmade Furniture 

"A new town has been founded.  The inhabitants are all German."

"We can also say we lead a free life, we are in a free land and you can imagine how great freedom is.  No one can tell us what to do or to command us.  Everyone can do as he pleases and everything is free except stealing and murder.  He who does that will be hanged."  

" We were ill on board the ship with sea-sickness, but it was not life threatening but troublesome.  As so many have written, we are glad that we are no longer in Germany under oppression.  Everything is not really well here but the prospects are great that things will be better.  It is very good for our children."      

"Hope my letter finds you in good health and greet all those who inquire about  me.  The address is Texas, to the German Colony of New Braunfels at San Antonio."

 Conservation Plaza

This letter was translated by E.C. Mornhinweg and published in New Braunfels:The First Founders by Everett Anthony Fey, Volume 1 1995.   This and many other publications are available at the Sophienberg Museum and Archives.