The Dancers

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Requests to stay in The Bungalow this summer have been more numerous than usual, due to the current COVID-19 situation and a strong desire by travelers to social distance easily, cook some of their own meals and enjoy accommodations that are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized and truly safe.

I couldn’t be happier! I’ve been able to share The Bungalow with families from far and near - with folks I know and others I may never meet but, now, consider friends (thanks to our many communications via text messaging before, during and after their stays).

Kaylee with Miss Ruby and her mother, Tara

Kaylee with Miss Ruby and her mother, Tara

The Dancers, their mother, Tara, and grandmother, Nina, are some of my new friends. This family, from the Dallas area, stayed at The Bungalow recently. The adorable 10-year-old twins needed to be in town to compete in Showstoppers, a national dance competition, held at Moody Gardens. The Dancers, I learned, are part of the Eminence Studio in Roanoke, Texas.

Kaylee, Miss Ruby, Nina and Taylor

Kaylee, Miss Ruby, Nina and Taylor

As it turned out, The Dancers did very well in the dance event. They took home lots of silver, platinum and crystal awards - in both solo and group competitions.

While staying at The Bungalow, the girls became somewhat enamored with Miss Ruby, the antique mannequin that graces a corner of the dining room. First, they sent me a photo of Miss Ruby wearing a new necklace. The girls said, Miss Ruby “needed some bling.”

Later, they sent me a couple more great photos of themselves with Miss Ruby.

Miss Ruby, with her new mask and a bit of bling around her neck

Miss Ruby, with her new mask and a bit of bling around her neck

I was delighted; I love seeing the faces of those who stay at The Bungalow and how they are enjoying the spaces here.

Before the family checked out, I received another photo of Miss Ruby. This time, she was wearing a mask - appropriate attire for this strange and unusual time. No doubt, it will stay in place for many months to come. It will serve as a good reminder for my future guests to “wear a mask and stay safe” while they are here!

Postcards

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This afternoon, like many other island history buffs, I watched “Galveston in the Rage of Postcards, 1898-1918,” a live lecture by local native son and collector Richard Eisenhour. The presentation was hosted by the Galveston Historical Foundation and accessible via Facebook and the GHF website. (I understand the presentation will now be archived and accessible via #GalvestonHistory.com).

The presentation started at 2 p.m. and lasted for about 90 minutes and, due to the talents of the presenter, the time flew by far too quickly.

One by one, dozens of historic postcards appeared on screen as the enthusiastic and highly knowledgeable Eisenhour educated us about their origins and significance.

Admittedly, I came to the presentation with high interest, as I too am (and have been) an avid postcard collector. Now, I don't claim to possess any museum-quality postcards, but I do have a personal collection that dates back to my childhood.

Long before I bought The Bungalow, I was visiting Galveston and picking up local postcards to send to friends - and to keep. Thanks to Eisenhour, I’m now looking through all of them again to see exactly what I have.

The Flagship Hotel

Eisenhour suggested looking for postcards with pictures of landmarks that no longer dot the landscape of the island, indicating those would be considered significant now.

And, guess what? I found a few postcards just like that.

Old Galveston Causeway

• One of the Flagship Hotel
• One of the Balinese Room
• One of Murdoch’s before Hurricane Ike
* One of the Old Galveston Causeway

What fun it’s been to find these old postcards and how nostalgic it is to look at them again; it’s as though I’m looking at photographs of long-lost friends.

I will always fondly remember The Flagship Hotel and The Balinese Room and Murdoch’s the way it used to be.

As for the original causeway…? Well, I don’t remember it as depicted in this old postcard. And, that’s probably good. I would not have enjoyed driving across Galveston Bay on a low bridge with such low side rails. In this case, it’s far better for me to simply hold on to this postcard — evidence of the island’s uniquely historic past.



Jazz Age Series

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A year or so ago, I was having lunch at Gaido’s with a girlfriend and, after a terrific meal there and before leaving the property, we walked into the restaurant’s ever-popular gift shop. On more than a few occasions, I’ve gone in to browse the shelves and left with an unplanned purchase in my hand.

On this particular day, a paperback book by Ellen Monsoor Collier caught my eye. It was entitled, Bathing Beauties, Booze and Bullets. I picked it up and scanned the first few pages. Soon, I realized the book was a mystery novel, set in Galveston, during the Prohibition era of the 1920s. Of course, I was highly interested and, on impulse, I bought the book.

That night, I started reading and quickly became enamored by the main characters: Jazz Cross, a young society (and wanna-be crime) reporter for the island’s daily newspaper, and her handsome beau, James Burton, a Prohibition agent. Before long, I was hooked on the story and fascinated by the bits of Galveston history, local places and legendary residents inserted throughout.

By the time I finished the book, I realized it was Book Two (of four) of the author’s Jazz Age Series. Ah…so much the better!

I found the other three books on Amazon and ordered them immediately. Within days, I was well into Book One…and even more attached to Jazz and James and all of the other reappearing characters!

Ellen Monsoor Collier

Ellen Monsoor Collier

Then, yesterday, while attending ARToberFEST on Postoffice Street, a table displaying books caught my eye, much like Book Two of the series had so many months ago. Immediately, I realized the person autographing the books was the author, Ellen Monsoor Collier. Delighted, I walked over to meet her and let her know I’d read all of her books and how much I enjoyed them.

Ellen’s smile grew as I went on and on about my affection for her books, the setting in Galveston in the 1920s and the endearing characters. I also encouraged her to write a Book Five and continue the story. I explained I wanted to read more about Jazz and James and find out what the next chapters of their lives might hold.

Sadly, she indicated she was not planning to add to the series. But, I was not deterred. With sincere enthusiasm and encouragement, I urged her to re-think that plan.

Who knows? Perhaps she will.

96th Birthday

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Today is the one-year anniversary of my purchase of The Bungalow and, to celebrate, I hosted an open house for my old friends in Houston and my new friends in Galveston. At the same, I wanted to mark ceremoniously the 96th birthday of my sweet little property on the island.

Though rain threatened to dampen our spirits this afternoon, it never came; and more than 50 invited guests traveled from near and far to get here. (I love my friends!)

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Among those on hand for the festivities was my son, Matt, who got into the spirit of things by showing up in 1920s-style beachwear. He knew I planned to wear my own 1920s-inspired ensemble and would so appreciate (and be amused by) his efforts!

Matt also brought his Echo to the party and instructed Alexa to “play 1920s music.” She did as instructed, and the background sounds could not have been more perfect.

Among my many guests was Gay Paratore, a well-known Texas artist, who now lives nearby, in Santa Fe, Texas. Gay grew up in The Bungalow, but she had not been back to the house since selling it in 2009. I had spoken to her on the phone a couple of times, but had not yet met her. I was delighted she accepted my invitation to come back to her family home and be part of the celebration!

While she was here, we toured The Bungalow together, going from room to room. In each, Gay remembered something special about the space, like the wall scones in the back bedroom (her old bedroom). She confirmed they were original to the house, but noted that she believed they were now hung upside down! (Gotta blame this misstep on the last person to paint that room.)

She also pointed to The Bungalow’s wooden rocker. After studying it for awhile, she said it had, indeed, belonged to her mother. She said, “I didn’t recognize it at first. Mom always had that rocking chair sitting out there on the front porch.”

I asked if Gay if she would now like to take back that rocker. She said, “No, it belongs here!”

Since then, though, that sweet rocker has been repositioned out on the front porch - exactly where it really belongs!

Gay also told me there used to be a garage and a huge pecan tree out int he back yard. Sadly, both are gone now.

What a bummer; I would have enjoyed the benefits of each of them!