Flat Kirsten

  Flat Kirsten's Back Story

 Flat Kirsten could still remember the horse rolling over the top of her.  When she came to, the doctor was telling her mom she would be flat forever.  She remembered that she thought it might be fun to slip under doors and hide behind pictures.  It was for awhile, and then she needed something more.  One day her round self folded her up and stuffed her into an envelope.  It felt like she had been in there forever.  Suddenly, there was a flash of light, a hand grabbed her and Flat Kirsten was being dragged out by her head.  There before her eyes appeared a whole class of children.  She wasn't afraid.  They were all smiling and pointing.  Flat Kirsten looked around and there hanging on the wall were at least twenty other flat people.  After hanging on the wall with her new flat friends, she was once again folded up.  This time she stayed in the envelope for many months.  Her new life was coming out once a year and hanging on the wall with other flat children.  Over and over she hung on the wall, and over and over she wished for something more.

 Getting Ready

One day Mrs. Seller reached into the file drawer where Flat Kirsten has lived for the last thirteen years.  As she was being unfolded, she thought, "Good grief!  It sure feels good to stretch.  I miss hanging on the wall with all my flat friends."  Before long, her eyes began to focus.  She could see the outside world with its trees and bushes.  The last time she had been out of Room 11 was when a group of second graders showed her White Oaks School.  She looked up and heard a friendly voice say, "There she is.  Flat Kirsten has arrived just in time to help load up the trailer."  As her brain cleared, she looked more closely and she recognized her grandfather.  "It's Papa," he reminded her.  Although her smile was fixed, she tried to make it bigger.  She could see the sparkle in his eyes and knew he was feeling the happiness she was feeling.  They set right to work hitching the trailer to the car.  It took a bit of time, but they did it.  It was now time to get into the car to get the furniture that was going to Texas.  Flat Kirsten was excited as she listened to her grandparents talk about their plans.  She had not seen her round self in lots of years.  "WOW!" she thought, "It's time for a reunion!"

Loading Up

Riding in the car was a new experience.  At first, I kept sliding down onto the floor.  "This won't due," I heard a voice say from the front of the car.  You need to wear your seat belt."  Before long Nana stopped the car and helped me put on my seat belt.  It worked alright except my head kept flopping forward.  "A little tape will fix that," said Papa.  After a little tape and some minor adjustments, I could actually see out the car window.  I had never been in a car before.  Everything was rushing by very fast.  I was feeling a bit dizzy.  Before long, we stopped in a long driveway.  I tried to get out, but the tape and seat belt made this impossible.  I could hear Nana say, "We have our flat granddaughter with us.  Let me get her."  The door opened. Before I knew it, I was being greeting by all the people at K. B. Bell Construction.  I learned they were going to help us load up the trailer.  First, they put in my great-grandfather's table.  Next, they turned a large round table upside down and loaded it into the trailer.  After six chairs, we were ready to go.  Thank yous and hugs and kisses all around and we were on the road.

Flat Kirsten's Road Trip

 On the Road

Day 1

Self-ie

I was so excited I could hardly sleep.  I was up before Nana and Papa.  I had brushed my teeth, combed my hair and was downstairs ready to go.  Soon they came downstairs, we had pancakes.  It seems I can only eat flat food.  We packed up the extra pancakes so I could snack along the way.  Nana told me this would be a long trip to see Auntie Carol.  I said, "Don't worry Nana.  I can do it.  After all the days I spent waiting in an envelope, I'm sure a car ride will be no problem."

Finally, our suitcases were in the back, the trailer was hitched and we were in the car.  It is a family tradition to start the trip with a picture.  Nana handed me her phone.  It was a bit tricky to hold with my flat hands, but with a little help, I did it.  "C-H-E-E-S-E!"

First Stop

I was right!  The view from the car window was much more interesting than the view from the file drawer that I had been living in the last thirteen years.  Car after car passed by my window.  They were different colors and sizes.  Sometimes I could only see the wheels.  I wondered how people got into them when they were so high off the ground.  We crossed over the San Mateo Bridge.  Water, water everywhere.  I knew water was not my friend because I had water spilled on me once.  I got very soggy and had to dry out.  Since the water stayed on the other side of the window, I knew I was safe.  We crossed over several mountains.  I could see many tall windmills.  I learned that they helped to make electricity.   I couldn't miss a thing because Nana kept saying, "Do you see that?"  Then she would go on and on about what it was and why it was there.  After a while, I thought I was in school again.  We turned off of the 680 freeway and onto Interstate 5 going south.  Papa exclaimed, "We are on vacation!"  Papa told me he didn't think we were on vacation until we were on a road he didn't travel very often.  After a few miles, Papa pulled off the road and stopped the car in a place surrounded by trees.  There were many other cars and large trucks.  It felt good to get out and stretch.  I learned that this place was called a rest stop.

Gas

"Watch for a gas station," Nana said.  Papa looked out the window.  There weren't any buildings only trees.  I learned these were almond groves.  In between the almond groves, were fields of dry grass and signs telling the drivers about the drought and how this area was a dust bowl.  After a while, there was a sound.  "DING!"  Nana told Papa that the gas gauge was in the red.  They both looked nervous.  Finely a sign, "Gas in three miles."  As we pulled off the road, I heard a sign of relief from both my grandparents.  "Can I help?" I asked.  "Sure," said Papa.  What fun... pumping gas!  I had never done this before.  Little did I know that we would be pumping gas a lot on this trip.

Corona, CA

After 425 miles, we arrived at Auntie Carol's house.  I was greeted by my cousins.  They were ready for a pizza and a swimming party.  I appreciated the flat food, but wasn't sure about the swimming.  They asked and asked, "No thank you," I responded.  Finely, their mom called them home to bed.  I was so tired and thankful.  Sweet dreams.  "I wonder what day 2 will bring," I thought as I drifted off to sleep.

Days 2

On the Road Again

I had a good night's sleep.  In the morning, I thought I would meet my round self at Auntie Carol's, but she wasn't there.  After a while, I heard that we were leaving for Texas, and there I would get to reunite with my round self.  Day 2 started out full of good cheer, laughter and energy.  First, Papa photo bombed Nana's good morning photo.  That Papa is lots of fun.

Once again, we hitched up the trailer and loaded up the back of the car.  Auntie Carol was going with us.  She was fun just like my grandfather.  This was going to be a good trip.

Eastward Bound

We climbed into the car and this time I had company in the back seat.  Another self-ie was taken by Nana.  After putting a pillow down for me, Auntie Carol helped me into my seat belt and taped my head to the back of the seat.  I had a super view through the front and side windows.  As we left the Los Angeles area, we left houses, trees and green grass behind us.  There was very little color and Nana called it the desert.

I remember Room 11 children putting the largest deserts on their maps.  I asked, "Is this part of the largest desert in North America?"  Nana told me that there are four major deserts and we were going through one of them called the Mojave.  "As we follow Interstate 10 across California, Arizona, New Mexico and into Texas," she said, "we will be in at least two more of the deserts."  From the car window, the earth was a sandy color dotted with dry looking bushes.  This nothingness went on for 334.4 miles.  We stopped for the night in the city of Phoenix, AZ.  I enjoyed computer time and giggles with Papa and Auntie Carol.  Nana was busy getting ready for tomorrow's drive.

Day 3

Yesterday, we crossed over the Colorado River and into Arizona.  We were now in the Sonoran Desert.  The desert went from a sandy color to different shades of red.  The dry brush changed to cactus that looked like people standing holding their arms up.  It is called the saguaro cactus.  This cactus can live to be 150 to 200 years old.  Saguaro is an Indian word. The correct pronunciation is "sah-wah-ro" or "suh-wah-ro." I tried to count them, but there were too many in one spot or a truck would pass by and block my view.  So I gave up on counting.

I wanted to take a picture, but, just like counting, those trucks got in the way.  During my computer time in Phoenix, I borrowed this picture from the Internet.  Here is a link to learn more about the saguaro cactus.  https://www.desertmuseum.org/kids/oz/

Another Day on the Highway

After a good night's rest in Phoenix, we headed toward New Mexico still on Interstate 10.  I learned this highway is one of three in the United States of American that goes coast to coast.  Long, but not that interesting to me.  I looked forward to the signs that said, "Rest Stop 2 miles ahead."  My two most favorite times were bathroom stops and eating.  Does this say something about the scenery going through the desert?  B-O-R-I-N-G!!!!  I met many children who had movies and music, but not in my car.

 

 

 Rest Stop Adventures

At many of the rest stops, there were signs warning of snakes and scorpions.  Dragonflies on the wall. Trucks full of many different cargoes.  It was time to look around, drop off the trash collected along the way and lots of good stretching, as well as using the facilities.  Then it was back on the road.

 Food Stop

The drive was so uninteresting that Auntie Carol and I needed a little change.  The next time we stopped for a meal we tried eating upside down.  It was difficult to swallow, but we finished our meal before turning right side up again.  Auntie Carol said, "I'm game to try anything at least once, but I'm thinking eating right side up is best."

 

New Mexico

Las Cruces, New Mexico is our last stop before entering Texas.  We are now in the Chihuahuan Desert.  This desert is the second largest in the United States.  It also extends a long way into Mexico.  The mass that it covers makes it the largest desert in North America.

At sunset, we admired the Organ Mountains that surround the city of Las Cruces.  The jagged, dark peaks reach 9,000 feet into the sky.  This small range is 32 million-years-old.  

At breakfast the next morning, Papa and I caught up on the news.  My favorite breakfast is make your own waffles.  In order to eat them, I flatten them with my spoon.  Waffles make mighty fine flat food.

Road Trip Continued

Texas Here We Come

1774.45 miles from San Carlos, CA to San Marcos, TX

Day 3 continued as we passed through El Paso, TX.  We could see the border between the United States and Mexico.  A ways out of the city, the border patrol stopped us and asked if we were citizens of the United States of America.  Except for this stop, the drive has been uneventful.  Whenever we stopped, the temperatures were between 80 and 90 degrees with gentle winds.  Nana said, "This is almost comfortable compared to the 100 degree weather a year ago." 

As we neared our final stop before reaching San Marcos, a dust storm overtook our car.  I looked out the windows and held tightly to my seat.  At one point, I couldn't even see the road.  We drove very slowly with our hazard lights blinking because the winds were blowing the trailer side to side.  All of us were on the edge of our seats.  I heard someone say, "Everything is big in Texas: Big dust storms, big winds, big rain, big thunder and big lightening."  I was so pleased when the dust storm was behind us.  

When the dust passed, we still had to travel slow because of the wind.  After a few more miles, the wind calmed down and we were left with rain and lightening.  The lightening lit up the sky.  We saw flashes, bolts that reached the ground and jagged lines of lightening.  The thunder crashed.  After a tense hour of weather, we were back up to speed as though nothing had happened.

Nana told me that after driving so many miles, I was now a road warrior.  WOW!  I also heard relief in her voice when she said, "Only two hundred more miles to go."

San Marcos, TX

We Made It!

Day 4 and the road again...

We were up early and on the road for our last two hundred miles.  The view changed.  There were rolling hills, wildflowers and green grass.  We guessed from yesterday's rain and the green grass that Texas has been getting a lot of rain.  Texas and California were both experiencing drought conditions.  Nana told us, "The last two summers were very dry.  I've never seen wildflowers, except on the prickly pear cactus."  The sun was shining and the temperatures in the low 90s.  It was a lovely day.

As the miles rolled along, I was getting more and more excited.  I could hear the same excitement in the voices of my travel mates.  We turned off the main highway and headed toward the town of Fredericksburg, TX.  Auntie Carol was looking up places to eat on Google.  She learned that we had just entered the hill country.  Nana was driving and Papa was noting the pecan groves out his window.  We passed several groves, corn fields and animals such as goats, cows, horses and deer.  We could see many large ranches, some for sale.

Auntie Carol read to us, "Fredericksburg is the seat of Gillespie County, in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 10,530. Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia." (Wikipedia)  She was most excited about the German Bakery.  Hearing our stomachs growl, we had to agree with her.  Food was what we needed!

Fredericksburg finally appeared.  The streets were full of cars and the sidewalks with people.  We later learned that this is a popular tourist site.  Many people come to enjoy the history, galleries and boutiques that lined the streets.  We had to find just the right parking place for the car and trailer.  As luck would have it, there was empty parking right behind the bakery.  The bakery turned out to be the perfect place for me.  I had flat German pancakes with applesauce.  The others had Ruben's and potato salad all around.  Nana tried sweet tea for the first time.  From the frown, I could tell it wasn't her favorite. 

Before long, we were back on the road.  We traveled a two line highway through many miles of open land and small towns.  A quick text to my round mom and sister warning them we were close.  I was bouncing up and down.  "We are almost there!  We are almost there!" I chanted.  We pulled off the smooth highway onto a gravel road with several cattle guards.  The car and trailer bumped along.  The thicket was full of cactus, trees and low growing bushes.  Soon we were pulling through a gateway.  I could hear dogs barking and the crunch of rocks.  The car stopped.  I was pulled out and waving in the breeze.  Before my eyes appeared my mom.  What a wonderful sight!

The Ranch

No "Round" Me

Dogs and Cows

I enjoyed meeting my sister and reuniting with my mom, but still no "round" me.  This is an amazing place.  The ranch is alive with life and not just people.  Sounds of insects fill the air during the day and night.  Of course, there are the four family dogs.  They roam the ranch and give plenty of notice if something or someone is near by.  My favorite, so far, is Owen.  He likes rocks.  Whenever he sees me, he finds a rock and brings it to me to throw.  With my flat hands, this is a very tricky job, but I love to see him run and retrieve it so my mom helps me.

Daily, the cows wander near the house.  When they do, you can hear the dogs announce their arrival.  Lacy thinks she is in charge of the cattle.  There are mother cows and calves along with one bull that graze on the grass and prickly pear.  I took a short video of a mother cow protecting her calf from Lacy.  I think the cow would win if my mom did not chase Lacy away.  The cow has powerful horns and is much larger than Lacy, but this does not stop her from barking and making a huge commotion.  The cattle left as quickly as they could when they saw the interaction between Lacy and the cow.

 

Before they left, Papa helped me pet one of the mother cows.  I thought the fur would be soft, but it is a bit scratchy.

Following is a picture of the cattle leaving quickly.

Many people believe that if you live in Texas, you live on a ranch and have horses.  There are no horses on this ranch, only cattle.  Most people that live in Texas do not have horses or live on ranches.  Living on a ranch is a lot of work.  Drought or no drought, the cattle must be watered and fed.  This is not just work, but also very expensive if the cattle can't forge for food.  Mother cows that are nursing their young eat more.  The larger the cow or bull the more they eat.  The cattle on this ranch are called beef cattle because someday they will be sold for meat. 

Happy Fourth of July

Meeting Round Kirsten

Today I met the person who made me and wrote the story of how I was flattened.  She is all grown up and much taller than her fourth grade self.  I had a wonderful time watching her examine my bracelet and patches.  Kirsten talked about how she painted her favorite things on me.  Her friendship bracelets were very important to her when she was nine.  She made bracelets for all her friends.  It did not matter if they were boys or girls they all had fun making and exchanging bracelets.  The patches on her clothes were so she could wear her favorite things longer. 

We talked a long time about how it was to travel with Nana.  She asked me if I had to make a scrapbook.  "Nana thinks it is important to write about your adventures," she told me.  "No, but I do have to write a blog for all my second grade friends," I said.  "Sounds like something Nana would do," she replied.  Then she told me about her trips with Nana to Florida, Boston (twice), New York City and Oregon.  Kirsten was happy to have a scrapbook for each trip.  She liked looking at the photographs she took and reading what she wrote.  She told me when she went to New York City and Boston for the second time with her sister and Nana. She liked this memory recording so much she taught her little sister how to make a scrapbook.  They put in their tickets for Empire State Building.  "There isn't a building that high in San Marcos," she explained.  "I could see the hustle and bustle of the city below.  Everything looked like New York City was a miniature town from so high up." 

I heard barking in the kitchen.  Kirsten told me that this was her new puppy Ned.  Papa and Mom are dog sitting this evening.  Kirsten and a friend are on their way to a Texas barbecue with friends.  I must have looked sad because she told me, "Don't worry I'll be back for the fireworks."  Fireworks!  I was very excited to learn more about fireworks.  She was off with promises of more time together, later.
 

Fireworks

Finally the sky darkened and dinner was put away.  I waited all day for the fireworks.  "What would happen," I wondered.  Auntie Carol jumped up and ran to the window.  "It's time," she exclaimed.  Nana picked me up and carefully carried me down the stairs.  I looked up into the sky that was a glow with sparkly stuff.  Over the trees every few seconds, sparks filled the sky over and over again with load pops off in the distance.  Auntie Carol put on music that she called patriotic music.  The people around me roared, "W-H-OOOOOO!  AHHHHHHHHH!"  This was the best time ever.

Barbecue

Barbecue in Texas

It was an exciting night with my family.  We rolled up into a large parking lot.  People were everywhere.  The wait of an hour gave us another chance to exchange family stories and do a lot of laughing.  Music and the hum of hundreds of voices accented our conversation.  Finally, it was our turn.  Nana took a quick picture of me in front of the barbecue pit.  The heat radiated from the wood coals.  I had to be careful not to get too close.  I thought eating meat would be "tricky" with my flat hands, but my family helped me by shredding up the meat into small pieces that hardly needed chewing.  No barbecue sauce for me.

 

 History of Central Texas Barbecue

I learned that the word "barbecue" comes from the Spanish word "barbacoa."  Did barbecued meat migrate to Texas from the Caribbean slaves that were brought to the Carolinas in the 17th century?  Or did Texas barbecue come from the local native American Caddo Indians?  In Texas in particular, the Caddo Indians were smoking meats over smoldering wood fires 10,000 years ago.    Or maybe the greatest influence, were the European meat smoking traditions brought by German and Czech settlers to Central Texas during the mid-19th century.  The original tradition was that butchers would smoke leftover meat that had not been sold so that it could be stored and saved.

"Traditional barbecue definitions don’t make sense here in Texas. “Barbecue is always served with a distinctive sauce,” say some.  Not in Texas—some of our most famous barbecue joints serve no sauce at all. “Barbecue means slow cooking over the low heat of a wood or charcoal fire,” say others. Sorry. Some of the best smoked meat in the Lone Star state is cooked at 600° F. "
Learn more by following this link: https://www.southernfoodways.org/oral-history/southern-bbq-trail/texas-bbq/