A Golden Moment in Time

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Story ID:	499
Written by:	Carol J Garriott
Organization:	home/retired
Story type:	Musings, Essays and Such
Location:	Port Lavaca Texas USA
Year:	2002
Person:	John Garriott

You know those moments in time that occur--friends arrive unexpectedly and it's awkward to get off work to visit, but you manage quality time nonetheless.

In July, 2002, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law (and life-long friends) John and Sue Garriott were able to get away for a few days and popped down from Kansas for a visit to the Texas Coast. It was a particularly stressful week at the motel I managed, due to a huge 4-day fishing tournament requiring lots of hours on the job.

We managed a rewarding visit in spite of everything--getting caught up on each others latest news over morning coffee, John as usual fostering reacquaintance with my feline menagerie, being an unflagging animal lover. He particularly got a kick out of observing Fraidy Cat, hopefully scratching at the front door for awhile, then when no one came to open it, trudging dejectedly to the back door to enter via the pet flap.

I directed them to some fun shopping spots in Seadrift and Port O’Connor, mostly shell, t-shirt, and souvenir shops. They seemed to enjoy dashing in and out of stores in the rain--do I know how to show my friends a good time or what. A visit with a Seadrift legend was arranged and much enjoyed. They got in some beach time and sight-seeing when the rain let up. This was their vacation, after all.

We all got together with two other couples/friends the last evening at Captain Joe’s in Port Lavaca. Sat out on the deck watching the sunset on the Bay. Sea gulls were swooping about, and John discovered they were keen on left-over French fries. Being an irrepressible guy, first thing we knew he was gathering up fries from vacated tables and tossing them to the gulls. It’s a treasured memory of a wonderful evening with dear friends. They headed home the next day; the jobs awaited.

A golden moment in time. Dear readers, take advantage of the opportunity for such when it presents itself. You never know how much time you will have.

We buried John on September 27. Eighteen days after he received the diagnosis of lung cancer.

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