Dallas, episode 1. In which we go for a short Texas drive.

When I first met Mari for that soon-forgotten-then-magically-remembered Wheel of Fortune "date" (Chicago-Indiana-Michigan, episode 1) I was an accounting major.  I also had this distant vision that I would be living in a small town in Maine after graduation, too, even though I had never (at the time) stepped foot in the Pine Tree State.  It may have been the influence of one of my favorite writers and the setting of some of his early novels (and possibly my frequent lobster cravings), but I envisioned a peaceful life in which I was reviewing ledgers by day, writing the next great American novel at night, and sitting on the cool craggy beaches and getting inspired on the weekends.  No hidden alien transports, horrific souvenir shops, or post-apocalyptic gunslinging missions for me and my bucolic imagination, thank you, although I loved and still love experiencing all of Stephen King's vivid drama, albeit vicariously.  We'll get back to how I ended up more than 2,000 miles away from that early vision (and how I wound up changing my major to English when I was a college senior) another blog time.

At this point, I've been a Texan longer than I ever was a New Yorker (but as my Northeastern brethren know all too well, the New Yorker never leaves you).  One of the first things you learn about living (and driving) in Texas is that Texas is big.

Texas is big.

From McAllen, you need drive nearly 500 miles before entering another (US) state, so let that be your guide.  Mari and I don't think much of driving a couple hundred miles each way for an overnight trip and, of course, we drive long distances to spend time with family any time.  A recent holiday trip to Dallas happily coincided with a very special monthly fleamarket which we had not visited in about 15 years and which we were thrilled to revisit once again with fleamarket-loving family in tow.

That's Mari with her dad at the end of the day with everybody's haul.

Canton's First Monday Trade Days marketplace has a very long history and a very big following (and, like Texas, covers a very large area).  Regularly scheduled on the weekend before the first Monday of every month, the outdoor marketplace covers a colorfully pastoral fairground about 60 miles east of Dallas.  For helpful planning details, including a full history and some great old photos, visit the informatively Texas-friendly site.

firstmondaycanton.com

Wanting to share the experience of our picturesque winter day, I traipsed the trails with camera at the ready, bringing up the rear (as always), while Mari and her sister and family, as well as my wonderfully adventurous fleamarket-loving in-laws explored away.  Below, I'm sharing some of the best views from that day (it really was a full and exhaustingly wonderful day) although, believe me, I've held back some.

Notice the unusual fleamarket stand in the middle of the bottom row?  Here's a closeup. 

Could not help but smile (and snap a photo) upon seeing this cleverly recycled vehicle for secondhand goods.

I have lots more photos to share (and perhaps a story or two).

Next time.