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If I were going to make a card to send to the Bush family, I would probably make one like this Rose Wonder card with a few pearls in honor of Barbara Bush. I would say almost all of Houston, Texas is just heartbroken since hearing of the death of Barbara Bush yesterday evening. I don’t think most of us considered the ages of Mr. and Mrs. Bush because they have been in everyone’s lives for so long and so vital in our city. So it was a shock the other day to hear that Mrs. Bush was in failing health, and as with our own family members, even when death is expected, it still is shocking and sad when it finally happens. I was heartened the other day when I heard her granddaughter, Jenna Bush, say on the Today Show that her grandmother told her not to believe everything she hears! I was hoping that meant things weren’t as dire as thought.
I remember when President Bush was still in office and people would ask what they were going to do when his term was over. They never wavered in saying they were going home to Houston, but I detected a bit of skepticism on those asking the question that a former president would go live in Houston. They did make their home here (I used to drive out-of-town friends past their street to say that’s where the Bushes lived, not that you could get into the neighborhood of course!). They were “regular people” in the neighborhood, often seen at their favorite restaurants, Barbara was seen at her favorite grocery store, George was seen at his favorite BBQ restaurant and returning movies to Blockbuster back in the day! Schools were named after them here in Houston.
It was thrilling one time to be at an Astros ballgame and saw, down in the best seats right behind home plate, that President and Mrs. Bush were in attendance! I think I watched from my seat way up high with my binoculars what the Bushes were doing more than I watched the ballgame! They were frequent spectators at Houston games and often featured on the “Kiss Cam” at the ballgame!
Of course there was all their public service work for which they are admired and will be remembered. But here in Houston people will remember the kind of neighbors they were in the Houston community all over the city in many aspects. So many stories on our local news of people who knew the Bushes and have such loving stories to tell about Barbara Bush. Houston and Texas, as well as the rest of the country will miss Barbara Bush, but what a full and exceptional life she led and shared with others. Her whole family can take comfort in that.