Antonio Alacrán 🦂

Y'all, I wanted to apologize for not posting yesterday. I woke up fully intending to post but then ---- in the Terlingua way ---- I got invited to a wedding by complete strangers, Abbi and Marco. Naturally, I brought my camera. I asked the newlyweds if it would be okay if I shared a photo or two with y'all and they were okay with that. I have to say that, having shot dozens of weddings myself, Abbi was one of the most beautiful, radiant brides I have ever seen, and Marco was a handsome young man. Also, in the Traces of Texas way, I found myself crying at this wedding of two young people who, before yesterday, were unknown to me. I always do. It was 96 degrees and there I was with tears streaming down my face, like a silly old fool. I hope y'all join me in wishing the newlyweds a long, happy life together. Congratulations to Abbi and Marco!

My friend @BeerPedaler just led a canoe trip down the Rio Grande for several days and kindly sent in this gorgeous shot. Looks like heaven! Doesn't it make you want to be out there right now?

My crazy friend @BeerPedaler kindly sent in this photo, taken in San Antonio but which comes from a book project he's working on in Brackettville. As part of the project he's going through tons of old photos. This one has no date but on the back is written "no date as of 1967" but also "where McFarlin Tennis Center sits now in San Pedro Springs Park." The rest of the images in the folder come from the 1880s. I don't think this one is quite as old as that but, in looking at it closely and matching it up to a current map of San Antonio, I realized that the two houses in the background still stand. They are in the 600 block of West Ashby Street in the Alamo City. I'm impressed by my own sleuthery skills! 😀 Anyway, I LOVE the composition of this photo. Really, really super. By the way, if you're ever in Big Bend and need a guide, plumbing, or somebody to put out a fire, or somebody to perform with his band at your wedding gig, @BeerPedaler is your man. Seriously, how cool is this photo?

West Texas is like falling head over heels in love with a beautiful woman who's always trying to kill you. @BeerPedaler

Luna's jacal. Here's my friend @BeerPedaler standing next to it a couple of years ago.

Dia de los Muertos in Terlingua. One of my own photos, taken about 10 years ago. @BeerPedaler

I was sort of down this morning when I woke up ---- feeling all the ancient, nameless ills of the planet, I reckon ---- when my friend @BeerPedaler randomly sent me this photo of a roadrunner in a tree. He took it out in Big Bend, where he lives. I immediately felt better. There's nothing like a roadrunner in a tree to elevate one's mood. The world may be going to hell in a handbasket and there are people at war with one another for reasons that exist only in their minds but, somewhere, there's a roadrunner in a tree. It's the little things, you know. 🙂 Thanks, @beerpedaler !

At the Dia De los Muertos celebration last night. Photo taken by Mallory Davis.