how the west side stole new years

Geographically, San Antonio sits on the south west corner what sociologists and college sociology students call "The Texas Triangle." This mega-region, as I can now call it after having learned the term last week, is one of amongst 10 or so similar areas around the world growing at a rapid pace. Everyone in Texas is for the most part found between DFW, Houston, and SA. Knowing that, and seeing that this state is the cartographic measure of how land large other countries are, there's a lot of empty space. It's in that feathery space between the high rises and dirt that one finds the south and west sides of San Antonio. In a city that never makes the national news, these neighborhoods hardly make the local news.

Friday night brought in the latest late night high life bike ride here in town, along with thousands of Alamobowlers and a huge storm system all convening in front of the Alamo around 9pm. With rough approximations of rain gear, we set off in hopes of escaping the weather and crowds. As the next few hours played out, we were half right and spent a good deal of time biking through the dark streets and drive-in theaters of the south side mostly soaking wet. The eventual stop at Jack the algebra teacher's old house brought in space heaters, Mexican hot chocolate, and a piano that no one really knew how to play to formulate one of the best things one can do in Texas on a Friday night. I have no idea where in town we exactly were at that point, and the return into the storm afterwards did little for the breadcrumbs I left, but I'm sure I'll be back at his place at some point in my life.

Last night's New Year's celebration put me on top of a rotting mansion roof, sipping champagne, and nursing my newly strengthened bronchitis. Before the Tower of the Americas even had a chance, the entire west side of San Antonio had lit up their back yards with the greatest fireworks show I swear anybody had ever seen.