Verl and Viola Van Houten

Verl V Van Houten and Viola [Walker] lived in Texas (Viola still does, but Verl is deceased). In 1998 when my father, Bill Brumm, and I (Dennis), visited the Lone Star State, we went from our base at my Uncle Robert's house in Victoria to visit Verl and Viola for a day in Corpus Christi. I imagine that was the first time I ever saw an ocean (or gulf), and I know I remembered, as we looked for sand dollars on the beach sand, vague stories of my grandfather, Samuel N. Walker, collecting sea shells during his trip to Texas in 1883-1884. I believe I may still have in my possession some shells which, if my early childhood memories are correct, he gave to me and told me he'd gotten in Texas.

I am certain that that day in Corpus Christi, Texas was the first time I had ever eaten a Taco. In 1968 "Mexican food" hadn't made it to Southeast Iowa, and I'd never heard of the things, though I did really like them.

Another difference I noticed during the course of this trip was the different condiments one got when one ordered a hamburger in Texas vs. Iowa (and in 1968 I must say that undifferentiated chain restaurants that don't vary from country to country much less state to state weren't necessarily the way people bought a burger most of the time): Ordering a hamburger in Iowa in 1968 with "everything" on it included ketchup, mustard, pickle, and onion. In Texas they added mayonnaise and tomato, and may have removed the ketchup, though I don't remember for sure. It was really pretty shocking the first time I got a burger with some of the wrong stuff.

Becky, Brian, Pat Murphy

The Walkers - 1970-2000
The Walker Tour
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