8 Things I Forgot About Amarillo

The boys and I just returned from a trip to Amarillo. In many ways it seems like yesterday that we still lived there but this trip just reminded me that three years is a long time...time marches on and things change....well maybe things don't change, we do and we forget so much about a time and place that we thought we would remember every detail. I didn't intend to keep a list about Amarillo, it just kind of wrote itself. So, what follows is the top 8 things I forgot about Amarillo.

1. Amarillo is HOT! Not just hot, but devil's spit hot. It was 293 degrees 103 degrees during the day and 90 degrees at night. I will get back to you, but I have a sneaking suspicion North Dakota thermometers don't have a "100" on them!

2. If thunder really is God bowling in Heaven (like my mom told me when I was young) then the Texas Panhandle must host a summer long tournament. The storms there are awesome. Beautiful clouds combine with afternoon heat to form dangerous storms, complete with 60mph straight line winds, hail and tornadoes. Thankfully we saw no tornadoes this trip. Here are pictures of beautiful clouds and their eventual aftermath. The first night we were there hail ripped off most of the leaves on the tree out front of Steve's parents' house. It also made small dents in the fence. The look on the boys' faces were priceless too. When the lightning, thunder and hail started their eyes became as big as saucers...they said later they didn't even realize at first what it was! Now that the blizzards and floods are over we can finally say that North Dakota has the best weather ever!

3. The Texas Panhandle is FLAT. The North Dakotans think they have a corner on that market but they certainly do not. The Texas Panhandle may not be classically beautiful but there is something to be said about a horizon that allows you to really enjoy the skies and make you think you can see the end of the world. All of Amarillo doesn't look like this of course but this was taken just north of the hospital and I think it is a great example.

4. Driving in Amarillo is a study in human psychology. Everyone waves at each other (which I think is really nice, by the way). Whether it be a full hand wave or the "index finger raised off the steering wheel" wave, everyone waves as they pass you. On the other hand, they all stomp on the gas pedal the nanosecond the light turns green, assuming that you will too. I am not sure how there aren't more rear end collisions, at least with out of towners like myself. Drivers also go everywhere at 55mph, even if they only have 5 car lengths to travel. Steve was quick to tell me that I have lived in Fargo too long if this bothers me. It is true that Fargo travels only at 25mph. I was left wondering...did I drive like that? I guess I did.

5. There are way too many cows near Amarillo. There are feed lots all around. If you've never started your day with the smell of cow poop, you've never lived.

6. Racial diversity does exist. Not everyone has blond hair, blue eyes and Skandinavian ancestors.

7. My Thai is still my favorite restaurant of all times. (In case you were wondering I eat chicken fried rice, no tomatoes, extra egg). I ate it at least 3-4 times a week when I was pregnant with Cayden....and he loves it too.

8. Donut Stop is, was, and will always be the BEST donut place in the world. For those of you who think it is Krispy Kreme or Dunkin Donuts, come to Amarillo sometime and let me buy you a cup of coffee and a glazed donut!

There is way too much to tell you about our trip at one time. Over the next few days we will share stories and pictures of our trip. Come back and check us out.