Hallowed ground.

Our "family portrait" with residents grouped by floor (Spring 1988)

Once upon a time, Tower Manor occupied the corner of University Avenue and 20th Street in Austin, mere blocks from campus and directly across from the University Avenue Church of Christ campus center. Accommodations were far from deluxe in the aging three-story private dorm, but you couldn’t beat the hijinks that occurred within those walls. And the location was incredible!

Fifteen years or so after I graduated from UT, the value of that location outpaced the income the old building could provide. The University bought that block and tore down our beloved Tower Manor. In its place arose the AT&T Conference Center and Hotel, a much-needed on-campus meeting and lodging space. Opened in 2008, it was so many things Tower Manor never could’ve been, and truthfully, our old dorm likely had outlived its usefulness. But it was still so sad to see our former home torn down.

During the Longhorn Network's heyday, I frequently saw commercials for the new hotel, each touting the "Meet at Texas" line. Video of trendy bars, fancy dinners, even wedding receptions showed what that venue provided. 

At the end of the commercial, there was the address: 1900 University Avenue. Every time, just seeing that hurt my heart. It was another reminder that 1908 University Avenue was gone forever.

So since 2008, I have wanted to stay at the new place, just to be on that corner again. During football season, accommodations there are out of my price range, but when I traveled to Austin for March Madness a few weeks ago, the price was in the "Goldilocks zone"—not cheap but not THAT much more than my usual hotel in north Austin. Because I was traveling solo this time and would have some extra time on my hands, I figured I could use the AT&T Center as my homebase as I wandered around campus and the Drag a bit. And as a bonus, staying there meant I could just walk to Moody for the game that night. So I booked it!

Of course, I LOVED my stay there. Everything is UT-themed, from the art in the halls to the prints in the rooms. 

One print in my room is a painting of the Tower from an old post card—one I just happened to buy off eBay not that long ago.

The two guest elevators are named and decorated for the nearer landmark: the Capitol to the south...

...and the Tower to the north. 

It did my burnt-orange heart good to take in all the Longhorn lore represented. The main restaurant, for example, is The Carillon, named after the bells in the Tower. The downstairs bar? Gabriel's, as in the one who blows his horn at the end of our alma mater.

As much as I enjoyed the nice interiors, I kept gravitating toward the lobby windows to check out the view to the east. 

Right across that University Avenue median is where our Biblical Studies Center once stood. 

I'm sure I crossed that median hundreds of times during my two years in Tower Manor. The BSC was home to Bible studies, meals, parties, and random hangouts when we would play pool or ping pong, watch Australian rules football, or just sit and chat (and pretend to study) around the wagon-wheel coffee table.

One of the desk clerks noticed me staring out the window and taking a photo or two, so he asked if I needed anything. I'm sure he regretted asking because I had to tell him that I used to live on this corner. Yes, I became "that old lady" compelled to share my own "back in MY day..." story. He indulged my ramblings and had the courtesy/customer service to at least pretend to be interested in what USED to be on this block.

Hotel entrance

Grand staircase

University seal

So yes, it was a treat to spend a night in that burnt-orange haven on University Avenue, taking in all the fancy hotel features. But the biggest luxury was having an excuse to reminisce about the late nights, the uncontrollable giggles, and the dear friends who years earlier had already made that city block unforgettable.

Living history.

This football weekend had been on my radar since June when I learned our dear California friends would be in attendance. Since they live in LA, our time spent with them is precious. We made plans to share a pregame meal, but of course, we hoped to see them before then, too. 

Then Jim, our Austin friend who just happens to be the state's preeminent historian, offered to give us a tour of the Capitol. What a deal!

Fab four.

I don't think I'll ever get used to it.

We spent the weekend in Austin, and for 26 glorious hours, we were four again. When we picked Ryan up, he slid into his usual seat in the Family Truckster and everything just felt RIGHT. We had a great time with him while we were there, but faster than you can say "empty nest," we returned Ryan to his apartment and headed north for home.

We were a little more than an hour into our return trip when I had a question for Ryan. There in the passenger seat, I began to turn toward the boy's spot when I remembered: Even though we're four, most of our days are now spent being three. That seat where he should've been, that vacated space, suddenly consumed all the air in our Equinox. I had to hold my head in my hands, in danger of melting into the upholstery thanks to the sudden influx of tears.

Of course, I'm thrilled that Ryan is enjoying Austin, and I'm truly loving the extra Katie time we're getting now that she's our "only" at home (for this year, anyway). I'm so, so proud of both of them, turning into grown-ups with every phone call, every decision, every step they're taking toward their futures. I know that especially once football season ends, these Sunday afternoon goodbyes will be rarer and his absence will become the norm.

But I don't think I'll ever get used to it.

Gameday.

Fun day with friends, food, and football, punctuated with an orange Tower. My kind of Saturday!

ATX: Katie's turn.

For months Katie had been begging for me to take her and her bestie to Austin. This summer, I told her. We'll have time this summer. While Katie was at one of her camps, Ryan and I had made a quick escape to ATX, but Katie's busy-ness threatened to get in the way of her trip. In July, though, I finally got to make good on that promise.

Our first stop was to see Cara and her babies.

One of the few pix of Addie. She was too busy
to pose for photographs on this day!

Later we headed downtown to see the bats at Congress Avenue bridge! While down there, we visited the new Toy Joy location and had dinner at Austin Java. Then we were off to the bridge.

 Here they come!

If you've never seen Austin's bats, you MUST. May to November is the best time to see them. They leave their bridge home typically 30 minutes before sunset and head out for a night of foraging.

Since it's pretty dark, it's hard to get decent photos. That's why you need to GO. See for yourself. You just can't imagine how it sounds and feels to have thousands of bats circling under your feet.

That black smoke above the trees? Not smoke.

Before heading back to our car, we enjoyed the gorgeous sunset and our views of Austin in the early evening.

But our day didn't end there! We also went to Pinballz, our favorite arcade, where the girls played several video games and this old-school bowling game.

We topped off our evening with some Amy's Ice Cream and a visit to the Arboretum cows.

Such a fun day! But our adventures in Austin would continue...