{ Helloneighbor }
take a deep breath
in La Vernia, Tx D
Story and photos by Michael Pape
espite how close La Vernia is, and how many times I’ve passed through, I was guilty of having no idea what La Vernia truly had to offer. Sure, I’d stopped for a nibble or fuel, but never took a chance to smell the green. I regretted this, but am here to rectify that. Being a responsible adult, humble toward my failures, I did the responsible thing. I Googled what La Vernia had to offer. For the first time in 20 years, Google failed me. All of my stressful Googling was, of course, completely unnecessary. I knew there was a weekend market that I desperately wanted to visit. That’s all I needed. With all of my traveling, all of my random excursions to the tiny, or the unknown, I never arrived with more than a vague idea of what could be fun. The towns do the talking as soon as you step out; predetermined expectations ruin the thrill of exploration. So, I threw my computer, along with Google’s vague walking trail suggestions, right out of my window. I had a weekend market to get to, and perhaps a loose plan of hunger-sating. (Side note:
12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
there’s a Taco Bell in La Vernia. I’m sure many of you don’t need to read further.) I arrived in La Vernia – which, again, isn’t that far away – later than I anticipated. I probably had an hour to peruse the market, and then the rest of the day to find places and people of interest. Before hitting the weekend market, the gravity of a different flea market sucked me in, stealing more time. I felt a kismetic kinship with the owner, and wanted to chat, but had to cut that conversation painfully short. The clock ticked quickly, and I knew vendors would be closing up soon at the aforementioned weekend market. I left with quick promises of returning another day and rushed to the weekend market to find it closed. With some lazy Googling that I had previously abandoned, I would have known they weren’t open on the particular weekend I intended to visit. Disappointed, I searched for strong coffee to calm the disheartened deal-hunting beast in me. That’s when things unfolded in the lovely way they tend to on these trips.
