A Houston New Year

On New Year's Eve day, we packed up and headed out for a three-day weekend in Houston with our just-like-family friends, Karen and Barney Giesen. (This after spending all of the previous day with four teen girls celebrating at Six Flags--along with 1.5 million of our closest friends.) We had much to celebrate--for me it was a birthday and passing comps; for my daughter it was her sweet-sixteenth birthday. And we also celebrated the birthday of our friend (author, writer, cool person) Leigh McLeroy. The Giesens and Leigh surprised our daughter with a life-size cutout of her heart-throb, Justin Bieber, which freaked her out when she walked into the dining room and saw some man standing there. She got over her fear quickly, as you can see.

Karen served a lovely paella. Then Leigh and Barney slaughtered us at Scrabble and dominoes before we shared our wacky predictions (like "Alexandra will become Mrs. Justin Bieber") and some serious resolutions. Welcome, 2011!

On New Year's Day we slept in, enjoyed some Belgian Waffles, and then headed out with the Giesens to see the Museum of Fine Arts. One of the highlights included photographer Richard Misrach’s 69-photograph visual narrative of messages left behind by Katrina evacuees—some warnings, some cries for help, some calls to keep the faith, some tallies of loss.

Across the street, we played in the Cullen Sculpture Garden. At right, Barney imitates Emile-Antoine Bourdelle's "Adam" (1889). I chose this photo because it is more flattering than the one of me imitating Matisse's aging woman with sagging body parts.

From there we headed over to the non-denominational Rothko Chapel. Its interior also serves as a major work of modern art with fourteen black (but ever-so-slightly color-hued) paintings by Mark Rothko. The artist did not live to see the chapel's completion in 1971, because he took his own life in 1970. (I didn't realize until this evening when I looked up Rothko that this was the same Rothko I studied at UTD. Oh. Duh.)

At lunchtime we devoured some gyros, falafel, and the best fries in Houston at Niko Niko's, a place that also holds the reputation for the city's best Greek food. Though the line for ordering went out the door, our girl was far more impressed by the fact that she got an autograph from Houston Texans' (NFL) defensive end, Mario Williams.

Once we had our fill, we drove out to Pearland, Texas, to see the Hindu temple there. We took off our shoes and got up close and personal with the sculpted building, which was stunning. And our guide was helpful in explaining why people were ringing gongs (to clear the mind before praying to the god) or why some pillars were enclosed in glass (to keep people from touching the more intricate works). We happened to be there at the right time for the daily opening of doors. A number of their gods and goddesses sit behind doors and are viewable only once daily. A crowd arrives for the event, and some bring food and flowers to offer.

On the way home we stopped at Houston's Water Wall in Tranquility Park adjacent to the Galleria. Imagine water roaring and kids laughing and a wedding party getting photos made, and you get the idea. I loved this!

That night more Giesens came for dinner. Gary won at dominoes, and we watched some Brian Regan. (We learned of him recently through our friends the DeMuths; he is clean and hilarious. A new favorite.)

This morning we worshiped at City of Refuge, the Giesens' evangelical Presbyterian church that we love to visit in Houston. It's multicultural in its membership, music, and mission. Every time I sing/sway there, I get a little glimpse of the "every tribe and nation" image Revelation says we'll enjoy in the new heaven and new earth.

We arrived home about an hour ago. And I want you to notice that not once did I mention one book title. Because I did not have to read anything all weekend!