Back in September 2015, I talked my brother, Tim, into taking me to the last Texas A&M home football game, scheduled for November 14th. It was Aggies vs Western Carolina.
Me and my brother, Tim, as we headed out to tour the Texas A&M campus.
I booked my flight with my Delta miles (Thanks DELTA!!) and the crew were simply wonderful, especially when they indulged me and my traveling bunny by posing for a photo! (Sidebar: You’ll see my traveling bunny in several photos. Unfortunately, he was damaged during the trip and is now retired to a nice bunny-loving community in Florida.)
I hit a roadblock when I tried to find a hotel room. It seemed that every room in College Station and Bryan, Texas, were booked! Why not stay with my brother and sister-in-law? Well, their place was a little small and I didn’t want to inconvenience them, so where did I stay? AIRBNB to the rescue. I found a nice little place in Bryan, about 15 minutes from where my brother and sister-in-law lived.
My Airbnb host, Meagan, was simply lovely. We chatted several times via Airbnb messaging and by text, prior to my arrival to her abode. She resides in a duplex, in a cul-de-sac, and the neighborhood was quiet. After the game, when my brother drove me back to her place, there were some rebel-rousers celebrating at the duplex next door, but once inside, I couldn’t hear them (and my room was facing their direction). Although I never got the chance to meet Meagan, I really appreciated their hospitality! I had a lovely full-size bed, a TV, and the bathroom was located directly across from my room. I would definitely stay with them again, if the opportunity presented itself.
Now to my jam-packed weekend!!!
I left Knoxville early in the morning and arrived in Houston about 10:30 a.m. My brother and sister-in-law picked me up from the airport and we drove back to College Station. We first stopped off for a quick bite to eat, and then went to their apartment. Before I arrived in Texas, which I consider my “home state”, my brother and I cooked up a jam-packed weekend, including a tour of the Texas A&M campus, Midnight Yell, Bottlecap Alley, and finally, the football game.
People leave little momentos at the Bonfire Memorial.
I saw Sully and left a couple of pennies!!!
We did some shopping at Aggieland Outfitters and the Warehouse, where I bought t-shirts for both me and my husband, Texas A&M golf balls for the doctor I work with, and some other small souvenirs. I even bought my husband a couple of reflective Texas A&M stickers and received a free limited edition black Yeti tumbler. (Just kidding… I bought the tumbler and the stickers were free!)
These senior cadets were so sweet to pose with Mr. Bunny!
This was the saddest stop on the tour, because my oldest dog, Dakota, had just passed away on November 11th. Rest in Peace to Dakota and all the Lady Revs.
So Friday, my brother and I caught the bus to campus. There are several buses that have routes around College Station that transport students to and from campus. Once on campus, the tour began. Tim and I walked (and walked and walked) around campus, touring the Bonfire Memorial, Kyle Field, the Hall of Flags, and the Bush Library. We toured buildings, libraries, and went from one end of the campus to another (with a bus ride from the middle of campus to the Bush Library). My fitbit vibrated halfway through the walkabout, signifying that I had walked 10,000 steps, at which point I told my brother that my fitbit told me that I had walked 10,000 steps and that I was done for the day. He lovingly told me to “suck it up, buttercup… we still have half the campus left to see.”
After the tour, we rode the bus back to his apartment. We picked up Suzanne (my SIL) and did some shopping and ate at Dixie Chicken (can I just say that the food was awesome and the staff were amazing!!) and I walked down BottleCap Alley. Then they drove me to Meagan’s place, where I rested and took a two-hour power nap before Tim came back and picked me up for Midnight Yell. And yes, I asked my brother what time it started, to which he replied, “Duh… midnight!”
If you are a stranger to Midnight Yell, then you are missing out! BE NOT A STRANGER!! IT WAS AWESOME! I met new people the whole weekend, and they welcomed me with open arms and a “Just Hump It!”
The five yell leaders were also awesome. They posed with Mr. Bunny after Midnight Yell!
Saturday was filled with more shopping, lunch at Grub Burger Bar, and another quick nap at Tim’s apartment. Then Tim and I headed off to the game. I had my 12th man towel and was wearing my Texas A&M hoodie (a gift from Tim & Suzanne). We sat in the upper deck, under the upper-upper deck, directly under the France flag. (Texas A&M was honoring France that weekend, in the wake of the mass shooting in Paris, which had occurred late Friday night.) Every time the camera showed the France flag, I waved my 12th man towel and hooted at the top of my lungs!
The Texas A&M Band was freaking AWESOME!!!
“Beat the hell out of Western Carolina!”
Sunday was bittersweet. It meant that I had to leave the great Lone Star State (Texas still holds a special place in my heart)! It also meant that I had to leave my brother and sister-in-law. My brother and I haven’t had the closest of relationships, but we are definitely closer now than we have been in the past, for which I am thankful! Before they took me to the Houston airport, they took me to eat at the Rainforest Cafe.
I flew back to Tennessee with a weekend full of memories, a handful of gifts from my loved ones, and a heart full of love for not only my brother, but for my home state of Texas!
Tennessee is playing Texas A&M in football this fall, and although I now live 30 minutes from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, my heart will be bleeding maroon and white! Gig ’em, Aggies!!
Yours Truly,
Vanessa
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