The heart of Texas
April 24, 2008 (Thursday)
“The Last Time I Saw Paris” is a song with a haunting tune and beautiful words. Just hearing it brings back memories of Paris, and I’ve never even been there.
I’ve never heard a song entitled, “The First Time I Saw Waco.” I just got back from Waco, so it's sort of on my mind. I saw it yesterday, but I can't get out of my mind the first time I saw it.
What did I see when I first saw Waco, Texas? I saw a bustling little city, thriving in the shadows of the large metropolitan areas of Texas. As I drove into Waco, at some point I got a view of the entire city, sitting on a plain surrounded by higher ground. Standing like a sentinel in the midst of its part of town, was the golden tower of Pat Neff Hall, which was the administration building of Baylor University. What a beautiful sight. I never tired of seeing it. I loved every moment of my years there. That was fifty-eight years ago, but the friends I gained while there have been dear to me throughout these many years. So, maybe I should write a song, “The First Time I Saw Waco.”
The skyline of Waco consisted of one tall skyscraper downtown. Some smart observer said, “Waco is a totem pole surrounded by Baptists.” When I got a glimpse of Waco yesterday, I saw a growing city, with many new buildings, especially on the sprawling campus of Baylor University. The two major hospitals of the city have relocated and now occupy beautiful new facilities. I don't know what the population is now, but it's growing as is the entire state, both urban and rural.
The first time I saw Waco, I saw it as a new place to live for the next four years. The last time I saw Waco, I saw it as a growing city, full of potential, and a nice place to live.