Family Day/The Journey Home (Final Chapter)

It's Saturday morning. It's already been a week for me in the Lone Star State.  Many of the adventures I had planned on doing while in Big D turned out being a complete success. Today was the annual Family Day at a nearby ranch, where we'll all get to eat some damn good barbecue, play some games or whatever, and for me, to just relax. I knew the lone downside was that 48 hours from now, my vacation shall come to a close. Time NEVER stops for NO ONE. Guess that's why we take photos & videos to remember the good times we've had. Half of my baggage was already packed to spend my last night at a Motel 6 near DFW Airport. This time, I wasn't needing to join the others on the coach buses en route to the ranch. My rental ride, the Hyundai Venue, was my chariot today. I was leaving my hotel room when I saw one of the newcomers, who asked me where the crowd was meeting up. Of course, I told her, but I had mentioned my ride was outside and could be there within 20 minutes. I introduced myself to her, as did she-Jhona Xaviera Fabian, from the Boston area. Wow! Some BTAC followers come a LONG way to get here, people. 

Jhona wound up being the only person that rode with me to the ranch and back. I was flying down that Texas freeway so fast I don't know how far back the busses were. Some of us who drove could get there early, and I took FULL advantage!! It was good that this Saturday was warm and sunny, meaning the freeway was going fast. Thank God for having a lead foot! Let's say I was glad I got a feel for driving on the Texas roads a week ago. It was TOO easy! Jhona and I walked up to the ranch, the same place from one year earlier, to find some of the folks ready to get checked in. This time, everyone had to use their respective smartphones to check in for those wanting to do some of the events, like horse riding. I was looking forward to doing that, however, I probably was too relaxed or something nonchalant to pay attention, which was what I was EXACTLY doing ONE YEAR EARLIER. 

So we're all inside the cafeteria/dance hall, while the crew were preparing our afternoon feast. My sister Sevyn walked up and took a selfie with me. We DO look good in our purple conference t-shirts. Yes, we were all UNERASABLE!! Since I was now an elder, I got to be among the first (with the disabled) to get some lunch. During my trips to Texas, I've yet to experience some REALLY GOOD brisket. In the previous BTAC years, we went to a different ranch in neighboring Tarrant County. Almost as spacious as the current ranch, but the food was...different. That's where I started wondering about how well some places in the Lone Star State can cook the staple. It was...DRY!!! What a rip-off! Remember the emcee that paraded around the Awards Gala? He was there in 2023. He asked how the food was. I said, "I had better. A Johnsonville brat would TASTE better than this!!" To this day, I still wonder if he knows what the hell a Johnsonville brat is. A plump, juicy and GRILLED Johnsonville brat is better than a dry, flat, unflavorful brisket ANYDAY!!!

I will say the brisket at this ranch...was alright. Nothing to write home about, but an improvement from years past. But they also had sweet tea...SWEET TEA!! Oh yeah, it was addictive. There was also this guy taking photos-first with a computer, then with a portable tablet. Seconds later, the photo appears on your phone! TADA! I wound up taking several pics (displayed above). The weather in Dallas that Saturday was comparable to what it was back in Rockford this time. In 2019, while enjoying a near-80-degree day in Texas, it FUCKING SNOWED IN ROCKFORD!! I can say that having BTAC in late April in North Texas will always be better than a mid-summer broil-out. Any Texan can probably agree on that. Plenty of us were playing kickball or football, some of us do what us girls do best...hanging around in the shade and yakking our asses off!! About what I haven't the slightest idea. I've mainly always been a party of one, so I galavanted about the ranch to see what other doings...face painting! card-playing! frisbee! Oh, what a day. There's the annual coming together for the full photo. I'm still waiting on this year's portrait. Last year, while no actual photo was taken by the official camera crew, but we stayed in place while they moved around. Hmmm. Look once...and they're would be me.

On the last full day of BTAC, one could obviously wonder what do to after returning from Family Day. The annual Dance Ball (think "Paris Is Burning") wasn't until later that night, but there was an attraction that a lot of us would return to: the swimming pool & spa located in the back of the hotel. Flashback to my first BTAC in 2019, I was bored as hell, trying to ask myself if this conference was worth it. I went to the pool area, eventually broke down in tears, and made a testimony to the people about how BTAC helped me overcome my fears of being an openly trans person in the middle of nowhere....and proudly drank an ice-cold Corona by the poolside. 

This mild Saturday afternoon, heading to the pool/spa wasn't an exception. One thing though, I didn't technically have a bathing suit. Time to improvise! So yours truly came down with a t-shirt...and my pink skort (looks like a skirt, feels more like shorts). For the next 4 hours, I was figuratively & literally at the spa. I did try to get in the pool, alas it's been YEARS since I last dumped my Amazonian body in a 4-foot pool that was 20 degrees colder than the current 70s weather in suburban Dallas. However, the adjacent hot tub was just right! So I first dipped my legs into the warm water, AHHH! I didn't want to leave. There was also a connection between the girls from Milwaukee with those from Memphis. We got along awesomely! Then, I decided to get in, leaving my phone & hotel card aside. Didn't regret it for a second. OH!! The feeling of those bubbles under my feet made me grateful for not being as closeted as I was in 2019. Someone went ahead and brought a mess of Pizza Hut by the pool, and it was gone in an instant. What's strange about this was even though I had asked someone to get a piece or two for me to munch on by the spa, I only ate part of the toppings instead. I usually DEVOUR PIZZA in no time at all!!! Must be getting older when you can't eat as much pizza than your younger self.

Sun's going down, and I'm treating the spa water like it's quicksand. I didn't want to leave, but I had no choice to leave that setting as the evening got cooler. I forgot to mention my sister Elle wanted to go out and grab a bite prior to that Diamond Ball show. She probably either stayed put or ordered out, I dunno. I was dumb enough NOT to immediately go inside to warm up from being in the spa. Hung around with some folks at the OTHER side of the pool, where I was offered a nice glass of a...screwdriver! Goes down strong, but nothing else!! Would up spending the rest of that Saturday night under the bed covers in my room with a cold. SHIT!!! 

Sunday morning, final day of BTAC 2025. Another conference was coming to a conclusion, and it's a moment I routinely love to hate. Woke up early enough to get one last free breakfast from the hotel...a three-egg omelette with mushrooms, bacon and spinach, along with some coffee. Several people I had known or got to meet here were about to skedaddle home via bus or had already flew home before I even woke up. Kinda why I decided to leave on a Monday this time around, because travel schedules are beyond funky for everyone. I did see Lacretia one final time before she headed back to Memphis, chatted a bit, and saw her leave the hotel for home. 

One person I had met back in 2023 for the first time (whose name I've sadly forgotten) here. She was a plus-sized diva as well, plus a member of a trans-friendly sorority I had once tried to get into. It turned out being the only time I would see her, because on New Year's Eve, she was killed by a drunk driver in an accident in Virginia. Her close friends grieved her loss, and what she'd meant to her community. It's true that you never know when your time will expire. Only God knows, which sucks. Every final day of BTAC, I wonder if I will get the chance to see some of these people again, if we don't keep in touch. This also goes for my friend, Monica Roberts. I'll always think of her, even when she's no longer visibly in the flesh. 

I gather my belongings together, along with a few bath towels, and leave some items behind, as I have in the past. Almost forgot about the beaver nuggets from Buc-ee's. I still have them now. I come back down to the lobby to place my bags in my car, and notice some folks with platefuls of food. Holy SHIT!!! They're serving a late breakfast in the main conference room! Gotta go get some grub! It was kind of a "thank you" from the servers & crew for serving us our meals for the week. Eh, it was something, though. Carter & Espy said a few things in front of the crowd, as well as a few speakers to get us motivated while we're back at our homes in case we needed an emotional pick me up. Yet some of the folks like me weren't leaving the hotel yet. They hung out by the patio to continue chatting away the day, smoking/vaping, or waiting for their Uber/Lyft rides to get them to either the airport, train/bus station, or a ride home within Texas. 

Yours truly, of course, planned to stay an extra day, and that was still the plan. I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to Espy, who was as busy as ever when the conference concluded. I happily found her, gave me one of her patented bear hugs, hopped into the Venue, and drove off, hopefully to return to the same place next year. I was once again on my own, driving through the outer Dallas highways searching for the Motel 6 where I'll spend my last night in Texas. Yes, I used the GPS on my phone to find this place, located in Irving, TX, where the former home of the Cowboys resided. Decided to gas the baby up so the rental place doesn't get mad.

I didn't know I'd wind up getting a third-level room to crash in. The a/c was cool, and later had to shut it off because I was getting TOO cold! I was once again all alone in this room. It was warm outside, so I just brung up one of the two suitcases so I could wash up, relax, and count down the hours until it was time for my Chicago-bound plane ride. The TV had wacked-out channels, as was the the first nights here. One good channel I left it on, Boomerang, playing all the classic cartoons of yesteryear. Left it on all night to keep me company. Ate my last brisket sandwich from Buc-ee's while on the bed watching Scooby-Doo. I had heard the Bucks were playing in the playoffs, but I knew they had issues vs the Pacers, and Indiana was having their way, and Damian Lillard tore his Achilles muscle in what would be his last game as a Buck. I knew they were doomed. Damn. 

Monday morning finally arrived. Another work week had started in the Metroplex. After nine long days, the vacation I had enjoyed the most part of, came to an end. I woke up early to check myself out. Grabbed a quick breakfast at a nearby Denny's. Yeah, it was satisfying to an extent. Thanks to the current economy, the 20oz drinks I had to wash down my pancakes and bacon were as much as a tank of gas in Illinois! Ya wanna know something else? Not even 35 minutes later, as I was heading toward DFW, my breakfast WENT THROUGH ME like shit through a goose, and had to make a quick pit stop at a gas station. I know I shouldn't have wolfed that brekkie like a pack of zombies, but everyone knows that crap is MUCH more expensive at the airport. And it's ONLY my 2nd time visiting DFW Airport!

I make DFW with plenty of time to spare, driving my venue rental back to its "home". I drag my gear downstairs to the main terminal and check in for my flight, now delayed by a half-hour. Just like at O'Hare, I'm getting assistance in getting to my gate. DFW is among the world's largest airports, so it had better offer shuttle service to our respective gates! Another trip through the TSA lines, this time I had to get out of my chair to have them do a full-body scan. Sheesh! Nothing happened, if you were wondering. Instead of someone pushing me towards my gate, a much larger people mover came be, for my gate was a LONG WAY off!! I arrive at my gate, seeing a cluster of people also waiting for the non-stop flight to Chicago. When it's non-stop flight, it's always going to be a full load! Sigh. I'm used to it by now. I walk over to a nearby 7-11 and get a drink to pour into my 40oz. Buc-ee's thermos. My name gets called, asking if I needed a wheelchair to reach the plane. I told them no, but I still got to get on first. While I was waiting, I had remembered that moment on YouTube about a drunken woman, aka "Karen", who went ballistic after she claimed she was attacked by another passenger...at the SAME AIRPORT!!! It went viral, and she still says to this very day that she was choked, though no proof was ever found. In reality, nothing exciting happened to anyone when boarding my flight. 

Here's a switch...In 2023 while at DFW to return to Chicago, the weather was warm & sunny. Upon arriving at O'Hare, it was overcast & rainy, with a chill in the early Midwestern air. This time around, it was overcast at DFW, which explained part of the delay. Arriving over Chicago, guess what? Warm & sunny, with temps in the low 90s! My second round-trip via the friendly skies was a success! I still forgot to bring gum for the ear popping though. We arrived just before 4:00 pm, about 20 minutes late. I get off the flight, and my chaffeured wheelchair was waiting for me. At least I live in a state where a trans girl like me can take a whizz in the LADIES' room and not have anyone bitch and whine about it! They took me to the baggage claim in no time, contrast to taking 30 minutes walking it two years earlier. I got my bags and away I went to find the train that would take me over to where my Van Galder bus can finally get me back to Rockford. Asking someone is better than reading a goddamn map on the wall! 15 minutes later, the journey back to the Forest City was almost done.

Around 6:30 pm. Back in Rockford, and there's my car, Pattie Sue (actually a 1998 Buick Century Limited), waiting for meat the Van Galder parking lot. I knew my longtime roomie Mariah was basically hungry, since I had bought her more than enough food for the last 9 days prior to my vaycay. So, what the hell, bought her groceries from Walmart online to shut her up. It was now after 7:00pm when I finally got home. My two cats, Silver & Diamond, walked up to welcome me home. Diamond, a replacement for the passing of Silver's brother, Ginger, has a knack for getting laid. This was the 2nd time in over a year where she's gotten knocked up. She's originally an outdoor cat. Can't get her domesticated no matter how hard you try.

 It's Tuesday, and it's time to get back to work. The vacation did help me recharge my batteries and reflect that I still have a lot to live for in my life. So I might not have journeyed to another country, experienced another culture or made a lifelong dream become a reality (getting hitched). I had a wonderful time, and I can only pray that my days will get better as I continue aging gracefully. 

 THE END