YKYW - Nursing Student Blog

What do you do when you are alone in your car? Do you crank up your radio and sing along at the top of your lungs? Do you quietly contemplate the cosmos and past decisions? Do you talk on the phone and catch up with friends? Or, do you try to kill yourself?

On my way into Austin, I did it all. While cruising down I35, I drove past some haunted memories. I almost lost myself in clouds of “How could you be so stupid?” but then a smile lit my face when I saw the dismal town in my review mirror. I still haven’t figured out how I was dumb enough to get myself into that mess, but (and this is what made me smile) I did realize I was smart enough to get myself out of it.

There are a lot of fun places to stop between Dallas and Austin, but I only stopped twice. I managed to resist the urge to stop at the outlet malls, and only stopped to satisfy my taste buds. The first stop was in a little town called Itasca, Texas. When I had my fencing business (as in chain link and privacy, not stolen goods), I discovered this wonderful little hut that served the best tacos and burritos. And, when I saw hut, I mean one of those little storage buildings you buy at Home Depot and put up in your backyard. I still don’t know the name of the place, but I love their bean, brisket and egg burritos. Their barbacoa tacos are pretty good, but they can’t beat those from the Valley.

My second stop was in West, Texas. Since the town is most definitely not in the western part of Texas, I’m not sure how it came to be known as West, but Czech Stop is known to anyone who has ever spent time driving on I35. Fresh kolaches, breads and sweet rolls - one of the many reasons all Texans know that Texas is the closest thing to heaven on Earth!

Once I finally made it into Austin, I almost killed myself. These people are crazy! I’m toodling along, and I spot my hotel up ahead on the left side of the road. I move over into the left-turn only lane, just to realize it would put me on the side of my hotel, instead of at the front entrance. Since there are no cars coming, I move back over into the other lane and pull through the intersection. Suddenly, there are cars heading right for me! In my lane! Sheepishly, I realize the mistake is mine, but I can’t move. I’m in the right lane, but there is a mail Jeep driver staring at me in my lane so I cannot go to the next intersection. I cannot backup because the cars are flying through that intersection, too. People on the left are honking and glaring at me, but since they won’t stop, I cannot get out of the way. Finally, someone lets me turn around, while I apologize and say, “Excuse me. Tourist.”

I was able to check into my hotel room without further incident. My room is nice enough, and I wound up with a lake view instead of a city view. I didn’t even realize there was water IN Austin. How dumb am I? So, now I am sitting in Austin, watching kayakers out on the water and enjoying a kolache. The only thing missing? SK