The tour is like someone's genealogy research come to life. As I was wondering the grand front hall I couldn't help but think how wonderful it would be to be part of this family. They can come to this location and see their family history in literal 3D. Instantly and before I knew more about her - I wished that I could meet the woman behind it all - Mary Moody. Even if you aren't part of the family, the home is a wonderful look into Galveston royalty and the lives of two sisters that, if you take the time to listen to the tour, come to life as easily as if they are standing there talking to you.Libby, the youngest of four children kept a pickled snake in her room to keep her brothers at bay and clearly had a Texas sized personality to go with her family name. This Texas tiger married a politician and lived her adult life in a stately home in Washington DC entertaining and becoming fast friends with Lady Bird Johnson. According to one story, she raised the Texas flag every morning at her home earning it the title of "The Texas Embassy."
The real story, though, is the quiet, oldest sibling Mary. One of the audio tours of the home is narrated by this original southern belle. She later married but had no children. Instead, when her husband and father died within months of one another, she found herself in charge of her father's financial empire. She lived into her 90s, served on over 50 charitable boards and had to be one of the first women to successfully run a multi-million dollar business. In one of the back bedrooms on the second floor, there are pictures of Mary eating and shaking hands with famous people (think John Wayne and Mamie Eisenhower) alongside treasures that she picked up from her travels. After discovering my enthusiasm this woman, the docent on the second floor let it spill that Jackie Kennedy asked the family for permission to use the patented silk wall covering found in the downstairs reception room in her bedroom at the White House. Fascinating woman, beautiful home.
When we finished the tour, I asked the guy running the cash register in the garage for a good place to eat with boys. He recommended the Sunflower Café and Bakery which was a few blocks away on 14th Street. We ate outside while a couple of greedy birds fought over scraps of carrot and lettuce left behind by other diners. It was here that we had our first encounter with the common grackle (see below). This bird, which was the size of a small poodle, dive bombed a poor woman eating right next to us and flew close enough to Ross and I that we could have reached out and grabbed it. The waiter, who was doing his best to shoo the crazy birds, said that one had stolen a shrimp directly off of his tray as he was delivering the food to some patrons the day before! Food and adventure - the dude in the garage hit the nail on the head.
After a brief stop for frozen yogurt on the way home, we relaxed in cabin while the boys went to swim in the surf with a couple of groups of college kids on spring break. It was here we had our encounter with the second grackle. Ross and I were quietly minding our own business when this large black bird swooped in through the open patio door and flew around the living room. We both did that standing crouch one does when contemplating having to tackle a large bird flying in a space where it is not wanted. This unexpected motion startled the bird as much as it startled us. To our immense relief, it immediately retreated back out the door which we promptly shut. No more surf noise for the afternoon.When the boys were ready, we headed to Nate's West End Steak and Seafood for a satisfying dinner. At a "sit anywhere you want" table, we ate steak, tuna, pasta and salad and discussed important things like, "If the Gulf is known for seafood and Hurricanes, what is Kansas known for?" and "What are two of the most interesting facts you learned today?" and "How big does a hurricane have to get before it is called a hurricane?" and "Can you boys get through one meal without touching each other or throwing paper wads in each other's drinks?" Today was a full and very satisfying day.
