Download & Print
May 26, 2020
Growing Up In Bandera
By Glenn Clark
The Bandera Prophet
Back in the day I didn't have to travel far from home to find an adventure. The Medina River was a short walk from our home and I made that trip as often as time and my mom allowed. Thinking back I can say those were some of the best times of my life and they didn't cost me a single dime. If I had a dime back then you can be assured I would have been headed to McGroarty's store for bubble gum and some penny candy.
My adventures now are a bit different because the first thing I do is grab my camera before heading out the door. In earlier times it would have been my bamboo cane fishing pole or an inner tube for floating down the rapids below the old Mayan Ranch Road bridge.
If my wife and I are headed out on a short road trip just to get out of the house the first thing we do is stop at the convenience store for a drink and snack. I swear my wife is just like a kid at times. Riding in a vehicle makes her hungry and thirsty. It always reminds me of conversations I had as a kid with my mom. "Momma, I'm hungry". "Glad to meet you, hungry. My name's momma". "Momma, I'm thirsty". "Don't dirty up the dishes, there's a hose outside. Go get yourself a drink". I didn't see the humor in it back then. Likewise my wife fails to see the humor in some of my responses to her requests these days. Or maybe she doesn't like me saying, "Glad to meet you, hungry. My name's Glenn".
The Medina River is still just a short walk from where I now live. Being able to take a walk along some of the familiar trails I have followed my entire life is a blessing. I sometimes encounter other people on my walks and I think how all of us are enjoying the same surroundings but for me it is like walking on hallowed ground. Occasionally I will see a young boy sitting quietly by himself away from the crowd with a fishing pole in hand. I know exactly what he is thinking and feeling. I hope his memories of days on the river will last forever just as mine have.
You can ask anyone about their young days living in Bandera and the river is usually the first thing they mention. Growing Up In Bandera wasn't always smooth sailing. There were some rough days right along with all the good times. The thing about Bandera back in the day was it always seemed to signal better times ahead.
#231 2020
My adventures now are a bit different because the first thing I do is grab my camera before heading out the door. In earlier times it would have been my bamboo cane fishing pole or an inner tube for floating down the rapids below the old Mayan Ranch Road bridge.
If my wife and I are headed out on a short road trip just to get out of the house the first thing we do is stop at the convenience store for a drink and snack. I swear my wife is just like a kid at times. Riding in a vehicle makes her hungry and thirsty. It always reminds me of conversations I had as a kid with my mom. "Momma, I'm hungry". "Glad to meet you, hungry. My name's momma". "Momma, I'm thirsty". "Don't dirty up the dishes, there's a hose outside. Go get yourself a drink". I didn't see the humor in it back then. Likewise my wife fails to see the humor in some of my responses to her requests these days. Or maybe she doesn't like me saying, "Glad to meet you, hungry. My name's Glenn".
The Medina River is still just a short walk from where I now live. Being able to take a walk along some of the familiar trails I have followed my entire life is a blessing. I sometimes encounter other people on my walks and I think how all of us are enjoying the same surroundings but for me it is like walking on hallowed ground. Occasionally I will see a young boy sitting quietly by himself away from the crowd with a fishing pole in hand. I know exactly what he is thinking and feeling. I hope his memories of days on the river will last forever just as mine have.
You can ask anyone about their young days living in Bandera and the river is usually the first thing they mention. Growing Up In Bandera wasn't always smooth sailing. There were some rough days right along with all the good times. The thing about Bandera back in the day was it always seemed to signal better times ahead.
#231 2020