Here Comes the Sun

As dreary as the weather has been the last few days, that's how beautiful it was today.  Still raining throughout the night and into the morning, the sun burst into full radience just as Banks and I were beginning our walk.

For you non-Austinites, this was a sad day for our town.  Leslie (his last name was Cochran, but he was known to all simply as Leslie), Austin's unofficial mascot, died last week.  He was a homeless transvestite, known for wearing thongs and tiaras around town, and severalo times ran for mayor.  (He continued to cross-dress, but as befit his more serious role, often wore sedate women's suits and heels during his campaign. Last time he ran, he got eight percent of the vote).  Today a memorial service was held at the gazebo at the start of the Lady Bird Lake Trail.  Participants were asked to wear tiaras in honor of Leslie, and more than a few sported thongs (I'll spare you those pictures).

Banks and I met up with some friends, attended a portion of the service, and then continued around the lake.  Remember my fall from yesterday?  My lower back is stiff and sore -- it was foolish of me to think there would be no repercussions after falling that hard.  So partly because of that and partly as a reward to both of us for rain we endured the last couple of days, we took it a little easier today.  It was definintely not a stroll (that would have taken forever), just a more relaxed pace.  The sun was hot but the air was cool, at least around the lake, and I  was in no hurry for it to end.  Hey, five miles is still five miles.

Aimee snapped a picture of Banks getting into the spirit of things.