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.

For Jim.

For years, Jim Hackney's Sunday morning Facebook posts encouraged us to grab a cup of coffee and have a chat. It's not Sunday, but the coffee and memories are flowing, and these thoughts need somewhere to go. Nobody can compose a Facebook chat like Jim Hackney, but bear with me because I'm going to share anyway.

Brett and I were on our way home from Austin when we got the news that Jim had passed away. As we drove through the darkness, side by side, we talked about how much Jim—our minister, pastor, and friend—has meant to us. We will celebrate our 30th anniversary this summer, and we fully acknowledge that Jim Hackney is a big reason why. When our marriage was in trouble many years ago, we reached out to Jim in our desperation. A couple of times he met us in his office late into the evening, hearing us, being there for us, advising us in those days of crisis. Of all the inspiring words he shared, the most powerful were about his bride, Sue, and the depth of their love for each other. He helped us see the beauty of a lifelong commitment, and he led us to the help we needed to fight for our marriage. Take our experience and extrapolate it to 50-plus years of Jim’s ministry, and that yields countless families that benefited from his counsel.

This morning, sitting in my living room, I recalled another morning 11 years ago when Jim sat on our couch to plan his eulogy for my mom’s funeral. He had known my mom in her later years, but he patiently listened as in my numb state I recounted stories about her younger days. He beautifully shared Mom’s testimony at her service a few days later. Jim had been with us through her many hospitalizations, and he was with us in those precious days when our grief was new and our world suddenly so very empty. And he did the same for many others! As a minister and a hospital chaplain, he prayed over thousands of people in hospital rooms and funeral homes, “rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn.”  

And now, as I sit at my computer, I’m recalling all the weekends I spent alone with Jim—or his words, anyway! From 2006 until 2013, most of my weekends began with an email from Jim. He would send me his sermon notes and slide outline, and I’d crank out a Powerpoint to accompany his Sunday message. I loved helping him with those slides, and he showered me with gratitude. But the best part was getting to be the first to “hear” his lessons. Jim was a gifted communicator, able to make his sermons “meaty” and yet easy to comprehend. He challenged us with truths that could make us uncomfortable, but those messages were always wrapped in love—his God-given, from-the-heart, sincere compassion for us.

For years, Jim's automated phone calls reminded us, "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!"

In our recollections last night, Brett and I kept coming back to Jim’s sincerity. Considering how many people he dealt with, it would’ve been easy, even understandable, for him to slip into platitudes or a “Reverend Lovejoy” type of script. But Jim truly saw us, took the time to really know us. He would thoughtfully consider our questions and respectfully respond with honesty. Jim was forthcoming about his own uncertainty, and with full transparency, he shared his faith journey’s twists and turns. After nearly 45 years at Heritage, he could have rested in the prestige he had earned, content with his tenure. Instead, he led by example, continuing to challenge himself. In his last sermon at Heritage, he admonished us, “We have to be so careful that we don’t feel like once we become a Christian, we have arrived. I mean, it’s too easy to become satisfied or complacent.” Jim never stopped studying, never stopped contemplating, never stopped serving others in his quest to be more like Christ. 

And he never stopped reminding us that this world is not our home. As recently as his Dec. 3 Facebook post, he wrote, "Enjoy life! It passes much too quickly! Do not be fearful! What waits beyond the veil of death is so much better!"

But it's not just his recent teachings that have emphasized life beyond this earthly one. In my sorrow this morning, I opened up the old "Sermon Slides" folder on my Mac, looking for the oldest sermon saved there. I found a couple from 2009 (older ones apparently lost when my previous laptop crashed). I randomly opened one file, and its topic floored me: "Trading This Life for What's Behind Door #1." 

The whole sermon is powerful, but here are a few slides that jumped out at me today:

And this slide that applies to Jim, as well!

In so many ways, we are all richer because Jim Hackney was our minister, our pastor, our friend. May the God of all comfort be with Sue and all the family, and may we all keep Jim's leadership, teaching, and example in our hearts.

P.S.

Here are a couple of special memories from Jim's last sermon as senior minister (Dec. 29, 2013).

• Excerpt from Jim's first sermon at Midtown 

• Slides from that sermon 

4,317 at Heritage as of December 2013—and more in the 10 years since!

Jim mentioned all the changes he'd seen, including Bible translations, dress code, and technology.

IYKYK :)  

2023 in Review: October

OCTOBER 2023

Katie's birthday and Halloween make Octobers special in our family. Throw in some extra fair time, and this October was off the charts!

October 2: Dallas

I was watching the morning newscast when I heard that Jeopardy! GOAT and host would be at the State Fair that day. Within minutes I was on my way to the train station for an impromptu solo trip to the fair! Ken was super nice and didn't even flinch when I mentioned that I'd been in the audience for a Celebrity Jeopardy! taping in August. (Upon further reflection, I really wish I had mentioned that I'm not a stalker but just living my best retired life!) 

October 4: Allen

Another whim fulfilled! Ryan needed to be at the airport waaaaay before dawn, so I took advantage of those early morning hours to be among the first to visit the new H-E-B in Allen. The team members treated us like royalty with free coffee, gift cards, and lots of cheers as we entered the brand new store. I can't wait to repeat this when H-E-B opens up closer to home!

October 6: Home and Dallas

Happy birthday to Katie! Because she was flying out of DFW that Friday, we got the bonus of spending her birthday with her for a change. To celebrate her day, she and I used my "bring a friend" pass to go to the fair. It was fun to splurge on the Texas Star ferris wheel, eat Fletcher's (and other goodies), and show her the special Texas Tech Centennial exhibit in the Hall of State.

Before going to the airport, the guys met us at On the Border so the four of us could celebrate our Bug.

October 7: Dallas

Even when the game doesn't go our way, Texas-ou is the best Saturday of the year! Once again Ryan got to join us thanks to a friend's generosity.

October 12: Dallas

For this fair trip, Dede and I spent time with our furry friends. We visited the petting zoo (and the overly aggressive ostrich), the pig races, and even dinosaurs. Turns out it was our last trip for the season, but we're already planning to get passes for 2024, too.

October 13: Winstar

Another spur-of-the-moment adventure: seeing a Beatle! I had so much fun (with my $31 ticket!) hearing Ringo and his All-Starr Band. I was excited to see one of the Beatles, but I was delighted to hear hits from Colin Hay and other 1980s musicians.

October 14-16: Lubbock

The morning after Ringo, I hit the road to visit Katie and see The Lion King in Lubbock. Along the way I stopped at a rest stop in time to see the partial solar eclipse. The shadows were super cool.

The Lion King musical had been on my list forever, so it was wonderful to finally get to see it with Ryan and Katie at Buddy Holley Hall. It was also thrilling to watch the Rangers beat the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS with Katie's friends (who happen to be Astros fans).

October 12-14: Portland

While I was gallivanting across Texas, Brett was representing at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo with friends. Always a huge show!

October 19: Athens

After visiting Milan (Ohio) and Paris (Texas), we wrapped up our "world tour" with a trip to Athens—Athens, TEXAS, that is! The occasion was the wedding of Brett's cousin's daughter. It was great to catch up with Nana's side of the family!

October 21: Houston

It was nice of the Big XII to add the University of Houston to the conference just in time for us to sneak in a visit to the Cougars' stadium. It was hotter than hell, and we nearly squandered the big lead we started with, but the Horns won and we didn't melt--but it was close. While in town, Dede and I attended the wedding reception for my cousin's son. After seeing Brett's family Thursday night, I loved getting to catch up with my family that Saturday.

October 25: The Colony

Nothing like date night! This one started with us picking out new "his and hers" recliners and ended with dinner at Rock 'N Brews. Fun night!

October 26: Fort Worth

We celebrated our 30th "Buenoversary" at Taco Bueno, and the nice social media folks featured our post on their Instagram story! We have eaten Bueno Chilada platters on Oct. 27 for years in honor of the fancy fast food dinner we ate the night of our engagement. This year we bumped our Bueno date to Oct. 26 because I would be on the road for football on the true day, but the Chilada platters tasted just as great and the occasion no less sweet.

October 27-28: Austin

Oh, how my heart needed this weekend! For years we have shared football and our lives, but miles have come between us. For this special weekend, though, Wallis came in from Houston, Greg came from New Jersey, and Dana and Kelley arrived from LA. It was great to share football, Tex-Mex, and lots of laughs with these dear friends who live too far away.

October 31: Work and Home

Happy Halloween! Brett borrowed Ryan's Cobra Kai costume for work, and Daisy cosplayed as both a bumblebee and shark bait. We didn't set up a table on the driveway, but we had plenty of "Trickers" ring our doorbell. Always a fun day!