My girlfriend, Wyndi, was editing a story for her paper and asked me, “What’s the plural of Bigfoot?”
I was silent for long enough for her to ask the question again.
I told her that the question confused me because there is only one Bigfoot.
(For my readers that aren’t fans of cryptozoology, I will ask for your suspension of disbelief and assume that at least one Bigfoot exists and that the majority of sighting place him (or her?) in the Pacific Northwest.)
To this, Wyndi asked, “What about the Texas Bigfoot?”
I said I’ve never heard of such a thing and she sent me a picture of her with it.
The Texas Bigfoot is a statue with red eyes perpetually looking to the side near the visitor center at Jefferson, Texas.
When I announced I was visiting her this past weekend, she said a trip to Jefferson was in order. She lured me in with the promise of an antique store know for a huge selection of records, cameras, typewriters and other vintage machinery.
When we got out of the car, she announced that we would need to get a photo with Bigfoot before leaving. A-ha! the trap was revealed.
Jefferson is a small town in East Texas that was swarmed over the Memorial Weekend for its annual Civil War battle re-enactment. However, it looked like just as many visitors were there for its large selection of antique shops and huge general store with a wide variety of candy, soda and other quirky knick-knacks.
Wyndi found a mint copy of the newspaper of which she is the editor, published the day after President Kennedy was assassinated and announcing the paper’s move to its current location. This wouldn’t have meant nearly as much to anyone else, but it was worth the $15 for her. She also got me the gift of a Henry Mancini record, because after she showed me the movie, “Hatari!,” we will occasionally hum “Elephant Walk” to get it in the other’s head and annoy them.
(Even if you don’t recognize the title, I guarantee you’ve heard it.)
I also found a vintage Ouija Board in very good condition that I was forbade from buying. I grumbled and put it back.
Wyndi then picked up a glass photo negative of two twin sisters that looked like it was from the 1800’s and I pointed out that if anything was going to be haunted and bring poltergeists into her home, it would be that nightmare fuel.
After the shopping, excursion, we grabbed some grub at a restaurant on a nearby lake.
The day trip wasn’t anything extravagant but it was good just to spend some time with someone I care about and explore a part of Texas I hadn’t visited.
Jefferson isn’t filled with a bunch of big-box stores that you find in every city and you don’t know what to expect there, but that was half the fun.
Following a year-long pandemic characterized by quarantines and social-distancing, I could see the enjoyment on everyone’s faces and it wasn’t just older couples eyeing the vintage wares. Kids were posing with the random photo opportunities too and younger couples could be spotted looking at dishes, wall art and yes, even LPs.
It’s officially summer and I encourage everyone to be safe as always but find some time to do something random with the people you love.
Paul Gaudette is the managing editor at the Dublin Citizen and can be reached at 445-2515 and publisher@dublincitizen.com.