General Discussion

slightlv

(7,438 posts)

36. Not only that, but they're what... 6, 8 lanes each?!

Fri Dec 5, 2025, 05:58 PM

Dec 5

I drove myself, my mother, and my grandmother to Galveston to spend the day one time. Mom knew (and disapproved) of my smoking... but my grandmother didn't; at least, she didn't say anything. Mom was such a nervous wreck on the highway and I was white knuckling it knowing that whatever lane I decided to drive in would be the wrong one for the exit... and although we were going 70+ people were whipping past my little car. I finally got us turned onto the correct exit ramp and there was a small gas station not far from there. Mom suddenly said "stop here at the gas station!" I didn't argue; I could use the time to get my bearings back.

Anyway, she opened the door and my grandmother did the same. She turned to grandma and said... just wait here, Mom... Sandy and I will be right back. She told me to follow her and bring my purse. When we got into the restroom, she gave me a hug, told me I'd done one hell of a job getting us here, and to please, smoke a cigarette! LOL!

When we got back to the car, Grandma grinned and asked me, Feel better now? I just nodded. Grandma had smoked for 20+ years, I KNOW she knew I smoked, but nobody said a word about it among us. Family dynamics!

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Skittles LovelyStuff berniesandersmittens area51 La Urraca susanr516

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I got lost in Houston and had a few amazing experiences [View all] berniesandersmittens Dec 5 OP

Thanks for sharing an upbeat story! PatSeg Dec 5 #1

One of the most profound week of my life berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #3

Seriously? PatSeg Dec 5 #7

Freaked me out. berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #12

The last time I walked into a taco bell, slightlv Dec 5 #35

I don't like it berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #39

I barely use my smartphone at all PatSeg Dec 5 #52

Our phones are gods. pandr32 Dec 6 #77

Yes, they have become an addiction PatSeg Dec 6 #79

With current updates I've had to endure, slightlv Dec 6 #84

Good for you! PatSeg Dec 6 #86

Probably the latter. soldierant Dec 5 #66

Well, if I shopped at a store PatSeg Dec 5 #51

One of the immersive art museums I went to had lockers to put your stuff in berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #55

Okay, this is all really giving me the creeps PatSeg Dec 5 #67

I actually saw a robot in Walmart here in SW Florida markodochartaigh Dec 6 #75

Sounds like an experiment that didn't PatSeg Dec 6 #80

There's a security camera across the street from me LisaM Dec 5 #21

The group my driver said he belonged to was Katie or Kadie I think berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #27

That's insane! PatSeg Dec 5 #53

when I was in the military I did a TDY to Houston Skittles Dec 5 #2

Hello fellow wanderer! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #6

haha nice to know Houston hasn't lost its charm! Skittles Dec 5 #9

Especially the Uber drivers berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #13

I think Uber folk in general have to be very hardy indeed Skittles Dec 5 #20

Not only that, but they're what... 6, 8 lanes each?! slightlv Dec 5 #36

heh Skittles Dec 5 #38

I visited a friend at his house and from his Ilsa Dec 6 #72

At the same time Houston is one of the friendliest and one of the meanest cities... pecosbob Dec 5 #4

you should have seen the look on their faces... berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #8

Depends on what part of Ozarks ... JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 5 #18

One of my Uber drivers went to LSU and kept up with the SEC berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #23

Wait! In 1994, Clinton was President. biophile Dec 5 #42

I was off by two years berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #43

I hear that! At my age, the years - heck, even decades are running together! biophile Dec 5 #68

ELECTED in 1992. He was inaugurated in '93 NM Grins Dec 6 #73

From a fellow person of the Ozarks (Lebanon MO, Bennett Spring, etc.), you did good!!! SWBTATTReg Dec 5 #32

Thanks! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #40

Ozarks enid602 Dec 5 #59

There are some truly breathtaking places near me berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #60

This made me smile fujiyamasan Dec 5 #5

I think good people will always find other good people berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #10

Thanks for sharing awesomerwb1 Dec 5 #11

Very welcome! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #15

Glad you had an, eventually, positive experience tonkatoy8888 Dec 5 #14

I didn't see many homeless folks to be honest berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #17

I've heard of the Bissonnet Track. Susan Calvin Dec 5 #22

Houston has done a good job re homeless LtTx Dec 6 #76

+1. It is the largest U.S. city without zoning laws dalton99a Dec 6 #78

It's nuts, isn't it? Susan Calvin Dec 6 #81

Yep. People wanting to buy a house need to make sure there is a good buffer zone dalton99a Dec 6 #82

Houston is a pretty nice city in quite a few ways. Susan Calvin Dec 5 #16

I had tried to venture from the Museum Of Science toward Bell St berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #19

Seems like there's always lots of construction going on pretty much everywhere. Susan Calvin Dec 5 #24

I just found out the girl at the station got fired for helping me! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #41

Oh my gosh, that sucks. Susan Calvin Dec 5 #56

Gonna try to get more information from her berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #57

If you're into mid-century modern houses, Susan Calvin Dec 5 #25

Thanks so much for sharing this with us Grim Chieftain Dec 5 #26

Glad to pass it on! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #30

Maps, calls and ride apps are all key backups nowadays IbogaProject Dec 5 #28

I have a smart phone but no additional apps berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #45

thanks for sharing . good people are still out there . AllaN01Bear Dec 5 #29

Yep! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #47

Spent an overnight in Houston on the way to catch a cruise ship in Galveston.. Permanut Dec 5 #31

Do you remember CB radios? slightlv Dec 5 #37

I do remember- never had one.. Permanut Dec 5 #44

hehe., i did cb in the 80s and 90s ./:) one time dxed into colorado from tic toc base . AllaN01Bear Dec 5 #54

Once, just outside OKC on I35N, where they're always doing roadwork, my manx cat escaped from the car. slightlv Dec 6 #85

That was so great. I have one too.. ananda Dec 5 #33

It's instant panic to lose your phone! berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #48

Dayum... that's for sure. ananda Dec 5 #65

great story.. all's well that ends well! mountain grammy Dec 5 #34

It was a beautiful city berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #49

I am going to Houston and San Antonio in January. Initech Dec 5 #46

Sweet berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #50

Thank you for this blogslug Dec 5 #58

Wonderful! 🙂 nt Raine Dec 5 #61

Glad to hear random strangers are still kind to each other IronLionZion Dec 5 #62

I didn't see one taxi the whole time I was there berniesandersmittens Dec 5 #63

You can call a taxi's phone number to come get you IronLionZion Dec 5 #64

Aww.. What a Sweet emotional adventure Cha Dec 5 #69

So glad you had helpful people while you had difficulties! And... electric_blue68 Dec 5 #70

Thank you for sharing your experiences! HeartsCanHope Dec 5 #71

Next time walk over to the reflecting pool and Japanese garden lostnfound Dec 6 #74

You met an entire chorus of earth angels! MLAA Dec 6 #83

Both of my daughters who were brought up there but live other places now still love Houston. efhmc Dec 6 #87