Deano's Blog : 2008 : July

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When we set out on our vacation our goal was not only see family and friends but to make the trip special. Give the boys something they’d remember forever. We made some cool stops along the way, but I think the events of the last few days here in my hometown will overshadow the memories we made on the way here.

Tropical Strom Dolly began to be the subject of everyone’s conversation here in south Texas on Monday the 21st. Still unsure if the storm would become a full-blown hurricane or not we went about our business as usual. Tuesday would bring the news that everyone hated to hear, Dolly was now a category 1 hurricane and headed straight for the Lower Rio Grande Valley . . . US.

Our plans of visiting South Padre Island would have to wait for now, it was time to stock up on the necessities water, canned goods, bread, batteries, candles. Although Dolly was only a category 1 it still had the potential to grow and grow she did. By the time Dolly hit land on Wednesday she was a category 2.

I was born in 1967 the year that hurricane Beulah ripped through this area and although I don’t remember any of the details the stories of the flooding and roofs being ripped off and telephone poles snapping like tooth picks made me worry for the well being of my vacationing family.

The boys were freaked as well. They witnessed first hand a city preparing for the worst and praying for the best. The sandbag frenzy in the city square, people taping up their windows and bringing in anything that Dolly could set in flight, the lines at the gas stations, put a realism on the situation that showed on their little faces.

The lights went out 6:30 pm on Wednesday night the wind gust by that time were down to 85 miles per hour, and we were riding it out it true hurricane party fashion at my mother-in-laws. We convinced the boys that everything would be okay and they finally went to sleep to the sounds of Dolly screaming outside our door. Before we knew it; it was morning and all was calm but the destruction was visible everywhere.

We spent all day yesterday helping my brother clean up the debris from the downed trees and limbs that landed in his yard. Today the flooding has gone down but power is still out to over twelve thousand people just here in my home town, wouldn’t be too bad if it wasn’t 98 degrees with 80% humidity. Over all we are all safe and sound and all of our family is doing great everything else can be replaced or fixed. As for our vacation…we’re still here I’m still running and Dolly will forever be a part of the Brown family

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After The Tour

Posted by Deano528 Jul 19, 2008

It feels like months since I last checked in.

So many things have happened it’s tough staying current and on top of things.

I’ll just realize my flaws and move on.

The tour ended the 7th of July in Pittsburg, Pa. and I must admit that this year’s tour was a blast. Don’t get me wrong; every tour is tons of fun. I mean come on I PLAY for a living. The different cities, the amazing fans, all the fun we have between my band brothers and I, it’s hard to have a bad day at the office in my line of work but this year was exceptional.

We really had a fantastic time from beginning to end.

I was able to hook up and run with some future Team McGraw members, which is always a good thing, and I saw some alumni from the NYC 2007 Marathon. It was great seeing everyone again.

But after the tour was over it was time for the family. In past years I’m usually touring the entire summer and rarely get the opportunity to go on any summer trips but this year we wrapped up early enough that I was able to take the family on a road trip.

I got home on a Monday and by Saturday we were loaded up and on the road heading south… Texas, that is.

We rolled out of Nashville bound for New Orleans. We have some friends there that showed us a great time and stuffed us full of gumbo and seafood, Nawlins’ style. The boys had a great time too. There’s a new attraction there called The Insectarium, which is part of the Audubon, and it was amazing. Come on, what little boy isn’t crazy about bugs?

Then we hit Café DuMonde for some beniegts and coffee. We had the coffee the boys didn’t need it. The boys loved the whole Jackson Square experience with all the artisans and the mimes and music and FOOD, it was awesome.

After a couple of days there, which wasn’t enough time, we continued on our journey south. We’ve learned over the years to break up our trip. The days of driving all day and night to get there are over. It helps the boys to blow off a little steam and it saves our sanity to just drive 8 hours a day. Plus they love hotels and swimming pools. Funny huh? So, one more stop just 4 hours north of our South Texas destination would let us swim, rest and start fresh the next morning.

1156 miles and three days later we pulled into Edinburg, hometown to my wife and I.

We love showing the boys where we grew up. They are always full of so many questions about what we did when we were little.

Summer road trips should be a requirement for every family. Spending time together, seeing the beautiful country and talking about how things used to be are a sure way to have a fantastic summer and make some memories that will last a lifetime.

I remember as a little boy in my room here in Edinburg, listening to my records trying to figure out the Cotton-Eyed Joe dreaming of what it would be like to play on a big stage with thousands of people dancing and having a good time to the music I was playing. Now, here in this moment I know, and I thank God for giving me the parents that encouraged me never to give up, the dreams that pushed me to pursue my goals, and the courage to never stop short of achieving them. And then he blesses me with an amazing wife and friend, and five little angels that make my life complete.

How perfect!