Growing Up in Bandera

Finding a little peace of mind used to be as simple as walking along the river bank or taking a leisurely drive down a dirt road. It’s getting harder and harder to find these places of thought relief around Bandera due to no trespassing signs and paving crews.

I wish everyone living in present day Bandera could see what I see when I walk along the streets in town each morning. Lots of the older places of business and some homes have gotten facelifts and are looking bright and shiny but my vision is one of a time long past. For me the new and prettier appearance at first glance will soon fade as I recall in my mind the image of how places looked back in the day.

I like and appreciate the preservation of buildings and it is a much needed process for our town’s survival. I am just thankful that my memory is still good and I’m able to hang onto precious connections to those places from an earlier time in my life.

It sometimes causes me heartfelt grief when a place from my younger days is removed. Such was the case recently when my wife and I took a drive down to the Medina Lake county park. I was shocked to see that Whitley’s Place on Medina Lake had been leveled. It was a landmark in the area. Another victim of progress bites the dust. Now that drive for me will never be the same.

Adolph’s, Turk’ Grocery and the old Avalon Cafe are still familiar sights along the way heading into Lakehills. Some old familiar places have new names or have closed. I was glad to see Jim’s Rebait Tackle Shop is still in operation. It’s a good place to get your tackle and some friendly conversation about fishing. On any day except Wednesday you might get Jim to give you a golfing tip too. Never on Wednesday. That is his official golfing day.

I know it is considered by most everyone to be a blessing when a gravel country road gets a blacktop but still it has a way of creating a feeling of losing one more piece of the way things were in the old days. Had I not seen it as it was before while Growing Up In Bandera I probably wouldn’t even give it a thought. Back when few things were better than traveling on a backroad your only worry was meeting another vehicle and having to crank up the windows until the dust settled. Go ahead and add riding in a car with no air conditioning or power windows as more things gone by the wayside.

Editor’s Note: Want more Growing Up in Bandera? The Bulletin is publishing a collection of Glenn Clark’s stories! Contact the Bandera Bulletin today at 830-796-3718 to pre-order you copy today! Books are priced at $20, are expected early December and will include 200 Growing Up in Bandera installments.