Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!!

On September 5, 1964, my parents, Austin & Walter, pledged to live their lives loving each other.



Where: St. Marks Episcopal Church , San Antonio, TX

45 Years..... Really. Really?? Yes, REALLY.

Let’s see - what has transpired over 45 years?? Well, honestly, I have no idea. That would take my parents sitting down and recalling from their perspective the events of the last 45 years!! My lil ‘ol perspective will appear below. I’m hoping that this will inspire my parents to do some fill in the blanks once they read it because if they don’t, this is all that we will have in the book of knowledge. It’s possible my sisters can do some adding to this list from their own perspectives, but seriously.... fill it in folks.

1964 Wedding of the Year in San Antonio Texas

1964 Living in Austin, Texas in a cool duplex (there are pictures) with a beautiful little dog named Laddie (I think)

1966 Move to Ponca City, Oklahoma (don’t know where or on what street, as I was not quite born yet)

1967 Birth of their first (and most wonderful - I can say that, I’m the one writing) daughter - Mary Austin

1968 Move to Houston, Texas - Prism Lane

1969 Birth of their second daughter - Perry

1972 Birth of their third daughter - Stacey

1976 Move to new house in Houston, Texas - Thornwick Lane
Mary Austin goes to camp for 6 weeks in New Mexico and her family moves to a different HOME without telling her. Came home to new house on Thornwick in West Houston. :-) (I’m certain there is a whole different story there, but that’s how my brain remembers it, and it, of course, is all about me.)

1977 - 1985 Still living in Houston, TX - Endured Mary Austin’s terrible junior high years, followed by the wonderful high school years. :-) (You have to admit, they were better than junior high). Survived going to Stacey’s soccer games and all the band commitments for all of us for many years! Survived health scare with Perry at Texas Children’s. Survived back issues and kidney stones on occasion. Survived many, many, many (how many “many”’s is too many?) long days and nights of homework and projects. Survived cooking meals for 6:30 dinners each and every night. Survived shopping, buying, carting and moving large screen projected TV’s on the NCAA Basketball Championship night because “DAD” just had to have it (even though he didn’t know about it). Survived boyfriends you hated and boyfriends you liked. Even boy friends who liked to come over and play games with the parents. Survived teenagers driving by themselves without tooooooo much damage to physical bodies (either theirs, anyone elses or the cars). Dad changed jobs once or twice in this period (don’t know when, don’t remember where - see the blanks that need to be filled in??). Survived all the changing fashion statements and thank the Lord, got away from dressing all three of us alike!! :-) Didn’t lose the big giant glasses though for awhile. Survived 40th Birthday parties (don’t think policemen really act like that in real life) and graveyards popping up in the front yard. Not one of us EVER went to jail or even came close (unless there’s something I haven’t been told..... is possible.) Survived many of our teenager friends dropping by on Sundays at 5:30 pm in HOPES of being asked to stay for Dad’s fabulous fajitas he served before they became popular in any restaurants. Endured one of us (was that me?) bringing home one cat (Kitty) who ended having another cat (Callie) and both living MUCH longer than anyone would have ever, ever thought. Long after we were all out of the house and gone.

1985 Move to San Antonio, Texas La Casa Blanca on Seidel
Beautiful, unique house. MA went off to college in Austin so while she wasn’t there living life with you in person, you felt it in the pocketbook. :-) (Thank you!) Perry & Stacey still living at home. Became very involved with church at this point. Another opportunity to add facts as I was otherwise preoccupied at this point in life with college at UT.

1990 - Present (yes, that’s 20 years, I know... but breaking it down isn’t real easy as I can’t remember any of the actual years, at this point.)

So.... Mom & Dad move to Corpus Christi, then to Houston, then to the Hill Country in Boerne where they live today.

Daughters - 2 Weddings (financed by Mom & Dad) , 2 Divorces and 1 Second Wedding during this time.

Six (6) Grandchildren born over this timeframe - Rachel (93), Macie (96), Stephen (97), Holley (99), Scott (99), and Allie (03)

Many chickens and miniature horses are raised and cared for.

Many gardens are grown.

Many tough decisions are made.

Finally.... (ok... so that was the abbreviated speed version....)

PRESENT DAY -



45 years later.... living in Boerne, Texas surrounded by friends, family and loved ones!! Retired and enjoying life as much as they can.

Love you both!!

Happy Anniversary!!

MA