Posted by Loulou on Mar 26, 2015 | 2 comments

Well, mama’s cousin sent her this video of an homage to Austin’s SXSW, South By Southwest music festival, which is one of the most important festivals in the USA.  Now the cousin is not exactly an Austin-lover so it was especially touching that he would send this.  Between Houston and Austin, evidently, there is no love lost, Austin being a young Berkeley-in-the-60s kind of town and Houston being, well, a bit stuffy about certain things.  Since mama is from Houston, she can tell you that it is not a hotbed of liberalism, but we won’t get into that right now.  What is great is this video of one of our favorites, Willy Nelson, so let’sit back and turn up your speakers and enjoy that great man’s aging, but still beautiful and touching, voice.

Mama writes me that the festival was over the week before they arrived so Austin is clear of thousands of tourists and overcrowded restaurants and filled up parking lots and a kind of frenzy that permeates the atmosphere during SXSW week.

But there is still music pouring out of small clubs and bars all along South Congress, and Austin is still Austin.  What tickles mama are the signs that advertise Austin’s businesses, things like We Do Dirty Things for the dry cleaners/laundry on Lamar Ave. or the sign at Central Market in the parking lot that says, Only You Can Prevent Dings, Put Your Shopping Cart back in the Rack or simply the ubiquitous Think Green signs that remind one that Austin really tries to help save the planet wherever and whenever it can.  I like that.  It’s sort of like me, really, who helps our garden’s soil rich and fertized, if you get my drift…

I think I’ve found my spot…