Seguin Magazine - June 2020

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

June 2020

A passion for gardening

Master Gardeners share their horticultural know-how

True

Trivia Queens

Brianna Steans NJROTC cadet earns her wings

I

An inside look at the local trivia scene

Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Seguin 2020 Scholarship Recipients!

Cheney Stephenson Seguin HS Jack Lee Award UT Austin

Joshua Avalos Seguin HS Texas State

Jerry Garcia Seguin HS UTSA

Chanse Hernandez Seguin HS UT Austin

Mackenzie Hodges Marion HS Texas A&M

Ralph Shanafelt III Navaro HS UT Austin

Karson Kelso Marion HS Texas A&M

Virginia Sierra Seguin HS Texas State

Hunter Rubio Marion HS Texas State Technical College

Zachary McCulloch Lifegate Lincoln College

The Rotary Club of Seguin has distributed over $750,000 in college and trade school scholarships to graduating seniors from our area. This spring , The Rotary Club of Seguin awarded almost $50,000 in scholarships and $21,000 for local community services. All of this is made possible from the proceeds raised at our Annual Raffle Night held in November each year. We know that this pandemic affects us all, especially our graduating seniors and non-profits. We are commited to our mission and our fundraiser will take place in the fall in person or virtually. To learn more follow us on Facebook @RotaryClubSeguin or call 830-463-1056.

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in this issue june 2020

16

FEATURES 12 EARNING HER WINGS - BRIANNA STEANS

An aspiring astronaut on her journey to achieve her dreams

16 UNITY IN GARDENING

Master Gardeners strengthen a community with their horticultural art

20 TRIVIA QUEENS

A local trivia group gives an inside look on their process and teamwork

24 HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

An organization bringing our community together to give back to those in need

12 24

ON THE SCENE 28 COLORING BOOKS BY MICHELLE JOHNSON

Seguin artist creating coloring pages for others to be inspired, and to have fun

CULINARY CREATIONS 32 VANILLA BOURBON ICE CREAM

Simple ingredients and a twist on a classic treat

20

UNDER THE HOOD 34 MELLOW YELLOW

Freedom with his ride and the road in a teenager’s classic car

AROUND TOWN 38 FAVORITE FINDS

Local small businesses show off the hottest items in their shops

40 FACES OF SEGUIN

4

Submitted photos from our readers

SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

on the cover Photo by Lizz Daniels

Denise Crettenden and Janice Ideus reunited in person for this month’s cover photo, inside HEB at True Texas BBQ where they participate in trivia nights.

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

Vol. 7, No. 1 Seguin magazine is published twelve times a year by the Seguin Gazette.

Publisher

Elizabeth Engelhardt Editor

Desiree Gerland

PHOTO Editor

Graphic Designer

Lizz Daniels

Bethy Male Writers

Felicia Frazar Katrina Berben Karen Ranft

Hunter Kotronakis Rushton Skinner Lizz Daniels

ADVERTISING

Delilah Reyes Gay Lynn Olsovsky Laurie Cheatham TO ADVERTISE IN SEGUIN Magazine call 830-379-5402 have Story Ideas? let us know

seguinmagazine@seguingazette.com

SEARCH SEGUIN GAZETTE All material herein c. 2020 Southern Newspapers Inc., dba The Seguin Gazette, 1012 Schriewer Road, Seguin, TX, 78155.

All rights reserved

hot tip

PLENTY OF GOOD DEALS OUT THERE WITH STORES RE-OPENING, KEEP AN EYE OUT & SHOP LOCAL!

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SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

An INSIDE look from our

WRITERS

Learning about Habitat for Humanity was an enlightening experience for me because I wasn’t aware of the true depth of humanitarian values present in the community before. It’s always nice to hear about people just helping other people for the sake of helping other people, and going great lengths to do so even during a pandemic. It especially brightens your outlook when you hear stories about the less fortunate receiving aid and see photos of people gladly helping each other. It was also impressive to learn that the organization plans on building three houses each year in the future, especially considering how they attain funding.

– Hunter Kotronakis It’s not everyday you get to meet someone that you know will change the world, but talking with Brianna and seeing the spark driving her towards her goals has shown me how unstoppable a woman with a passion can be. I have no doubt that she will achieve the goals she has in place and accomplish much more in her lifetime. Getting the opportunity to hear her talk about the sky and seeing the progress she has made at such a young age to make her dreams a reality was inspiring and has shown me that with diligence and dedication anything is possible.

– Karen Ranft Writing about Beer, BBQ, and Queens was an exciting opportunity. We met via Zoom, and talked all about fun Trivia questions and why they love it so much.

When writing it, I wanted to share their story in a way that takes the reader into that moment, into the essence of competitive Trivia. Honestly, I found it all so interesting, I may have to try my own hand out at Trivia once things start to open back up.

– Lizz Daniels

New Facebook Live schedule Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 7:30pm.

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7

FROM THE

Editor T

he return to normalcy approaches, Seguin! Spring is in full force, Summer heat is already sneaking up in true Texas fashion, businesses are opening, and the daily grind is ramping up to its former pace. There’s little time to waste.

With all of the changes and bizarre happenings in the world the previous months, it can be hard to balance ourselves and get back into the groove. I find myself looking to my roots, or back at what got me to where I am, as a way to center myself so I can dive right in to the craziness of daily life. We have to look to our previously established work goals, life goals, relationship goals, and maybe even set some new goals for the future. Some self-reflection to reboot our brains to the rebooting world. Recognize what was, and what has changed, and we’ll easily move forward.

Throughout all of this seemingly difficult transition, we have to also allow ourselves to enjoy what this time of year in Seguin has to offer. For example the Master Gardeners that are doing their part to grow the community by growing beautiful plants and flowers. Also, don’t forget that Seguin is home to many fun extracurricular activities that are starting back up. It’s not just work beginning again!

Activities such as a local trivia night, as discussed by the fabulous Trivia Queens.

Flip through these pages to find a delicious bourbon infused vanilla ice cream that will help you cool down once this heat gets unbearable, or find a nice place to sit and relax with one of the coloring pages designed by Michelle Johnson.

However you plan on spending the start of summer, I hope you keep finding ways to support this wonderful community and help us all return to a new sense of normal. Work hard, but center yourselves by playing hard, too.

As always, it’s a pleasure to be here! We’re in this together, Seguin.

Desiree Gerland

Desiree Gerland, Editor

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The Seguin Gazette has put together something special for all of our 2020 graduates. Look for it in your subscription or find it around town on June 14th.

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Earning Her

wings

High School Senior Fullfills Dream S t o ry by Ka r en Ra nf t

M

ost teenagers are focused on getting their first set of wheels and ruling the road, but Seguin High School senior Brianna Steans has taken it a step higher by earning her wings to prove she is ready to take on the sky. She recently took the first step on a skyward journey as she shoots for the stars with her dream of becoming an astronaut.

“I wanted to earn my wings because it seemed fun,” Steans said.

“It is essentially proof that I have flight experience in a plane, so someone will take me seriously enough to give me a chance to achieve the goals I have set for myself. I am a woman of color, aspiring to be an astro-

“

naut, and that’s not something you hear every day, but I am determined, so the opinions of others shouldn’t set me back. I know what I want, and I know the path I am going to take so I should be able to overcome anything.”

Steans was among the first group of Seguin High School Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students to graduate from the Junior Flight Academy. The prestigious program selects students based on testimonials from their commanders.

Training starts by teaching students the basics of flight and ends with each cadet single-handedly piloting a plane.

“I had been in a plane two or three times before actually flying a plane in the program,” Steans said. “The big difference is that flying

Flying the plane is more of a personal experience than being a passenger in one. The plane I flew was a four-seater, so it was much smaller than a commercial plane that I had been on before

12 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

”

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 13

the plane is more of a personal experience than being a passenger in one.

The plane I flew was a four-seater, so it was much smaller than a commercial plane that I had been on before, so it just felt like I was actually flying in the air more than it does when you’re in a commercial plane.”

But Steans’s connectedness to the smaller plane wasn’t the only thing that gave her the feeling of freedom and 14 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

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“My favorite memory during the academy was above the clouds,” Steans said. “I don’t think I had any fears.

I was confident that I was in good hands. It was so much fun to be in the plane so high up in the air. It feels and looks really amazing flying through the clouds. Not many people get to experience something like that, so it just felt even more amazing, and it’s something I’ll never forget.”

For Steans, the hardest part of the program was saying goodbye after experiencing authentic euphoria.

However, with her fearless attitude in the face of adversity and her commitment to her dreams, the sky is no longer the limit, and soon she will be among the stars.

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www.visitseguin.com GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 15

Suburban Cultivating Creativity via Community and Culture S t o ry by Kat r i n a B e r ba n

T

he warm Texas weather and humid air make for the perfect gardening atmosphere for the Guadalupe County Master Gardeners. Within the county lines lies a passionate group of men and women whose goal is to grow their flora and to flourish the community with horticultural knowledge.

Master Gardeners are individuals who have completed 50 hours of volunteer service while practicing the art and science of gardening. They must also maintain a certain amount of service hours per year to withhold the accredited title of Master Gardener. Guadalupe County is home to 138 certified Master Gardeners who all contribute to the county in many ways. This dedicated group is composed of spirited people from various backgrounds who have come together to impact the growing community they now share.

Past President Kay McElveen practices her craft in the small confinement of her suburban backyard, but that doesn’t stop her garden from thriving. When you step into McElveen’s backyard,

16 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

you’re met with a comfortable seating space accompanied by two raised gardening beds filled with a variety of roses, lavender, various small flowers, and vines. Moving from Northern Arkansas to Central Texas in 2014, McElveen embraced the shift in culture, community, and climate. Just three weeks into living in the Lonestar State, sister and fellow Master Gardener Patricia Watkins handed Kay the application. From that moment on, she began to branch out and become involved in the Master Gardeners organization.

“I get satisfaction from watching things grow and bloom,” McElveen said. “Whether it’s people or plants, it’s rewarding to me; it’s my psychological relief valve. The people here are great. I love living in Seguin... the people are really friendly. I’ve lived in several places in my life, and they all have their pluses and minuses.

If you’re unhappy someplace, you need to look internally and see what’s wrong, and I like Seguin.”

Not only does McElveen embrace the strong sense of community, but also the suitable weather that Texas provides for gardening.

“One of the things I love about it here is that we have three good growing seasons that do not include July and August, and there’s no winter in this part of Texas,” she said. “From a gardening perspective, that’s my favorite thing, and you can grow a wide variety of things.”

The Master Gardeners run six different community gardens in Guadalupe County, aid in surrounding communities, and help bring beauty and knowledge to an expanding city.

Current President Jerry McNulty, helps the organization capitalize on its mission by sharing his passion through presentations, Lunch-nLearns, and hands-on projects.

“I’ve always been someone who’s been involved in the community, and sharing my love for gardening has come naturally,” McNulty said. “I get 18 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

a lot of my [service] time from doing presentations for the community and sharing the mission of the Master Gardener program, which is education for the community.”

Seguin’s culmination of culture and community creates a hotspot for creativity. Many think gardening is just digging in the dirt, but there’s much more to gardening than just planting vegetables and ornamental plants.

“We’ve got a good art scene in Seguin as well,” McNulty said. “It’s the combination of gardening and art together creating beauty with plants that is a good melting pot here in Seguin. We have a diverse crowd, and it’s a fun place to share a passion.”

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True Texas

Queens Story by L i zz Da ni e l s

I

t’s almost 7 p.m. inside True Texas BBQ at the Seguin H-E-B. Chairs scrape across the floor, the sound lost amidst conversation, while people scurry to their tables with food and drink. They sit in groups, ready for a night of friendly competition, and the room falls quiet as the host explains the rules of trivia night.

Over the next two hours, 20 questions are raised by the host for players to solve. Teams have the length of one song to decide on their answer and submit it — no phones out during rounds, and no take-backs if you realize you got the answer wrong after turning it over.

Trivia Nights, such as the ones hosted at H-E-B, have popped up in the area with other local events also

held at the Seguin Brewing Company downtown. Local team Beer, BBQ & Queens, BBQ for short, got in on the fun four years ago when they first started playing together. While team members have come and gone, Denise Crettenden stuck around, and so did the name.

Crettenden, along with Janice Ideus and Amy Hanson, form the core team today.

“We play in the same league as 30 or 40 teams in and around Seguin and New Braunfels,” Crettenden said. “There could be four or five teams per event, or there could be double that any given night. It’s free to play, we just make sure to order from the restaurant to support them.”

Depicted in movies and on TV as being high energy

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 21

“

Inevitably, you are going to be wrong at some point, and the other person will be right... but we are kind when that happens and don’t hold it against each other. and even combative, Trivia Nights are a little different in Guadalupe County, but that doesn’t mean local teams don’t play to win. By curating a team with a variety of interests, BBQ developed a cross-generational group that relies on each other’s unique experiences to inform their gameplay.

“What I appreciate about my team is that we all have our specialties,” Crettenden said. “Janice is a little older than us, so there are some things she remembers that we don’t, and she also knows history and geography. Amy has a little more 70s and 80s knowledge, and has seen a lot more movies and television than the rest of us.”

Crettenden brings to the table a wide range of knowledge from who wore what to the Oscars to classic literature. Working as a team, they tackle questions about science, advertising, pop culture, and more, relying on each other when they get stuck with a topic with which they are unfamiliar. Even Hanson and Crettenden’s daughters get in on the action supporting the team with knowledge on subjects like Taylor Swift and Harry Potter.

Where conflict can arise, however, is when two people have different answers to the same question. In these moments, competition comes secondary to being good teammates and friends to each other. Even when someone swears they are right, but turns up flat wrong, kindness prevails.

“Inevitably, you are going to be wrong at some point, and the other person will be right,” Crettenden said. “It might have been the deciding

22 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

”

factor in whether you win or not, but we are kind when that happens and don’t hold it against each other.”

The camaraderie that happens when they play together is what keeps them returning for more, and the hobby sneaks up in unexpected areas throughout their lives. This is partially due to the sheer variety of topics that

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come up in a night of trivia.

On a family trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Crettenden and daughter Eleanor found themselves listening to the historical stories in a new context, which they could take and apply to their favorite pastime back home.

“After that vacation, I felt like a colonial war expert,” Denise said.

“Eleanor said to me the other day that when we watch TV now, she tries to remember information so we can use it at trivia.”

Ideus also finds ways of linking her world back to trivia. Her memory isn’t what it once was, and can occasionally become a hindrance when a fact is just out of mental reach.

“I have a poor memory, so I play word games on my phone and watch Jeopardy to help keep my thinker sharp,” Ideus said. “But even with all that, sometimes I know the answer; I just can’t think of it when I need it.”

That’s when the team pulls together, bouncing ideas and questions off each other in rapid succession to jog each other’s memories.

They may not always get it right, but more often than not, this back and forth gets them closer.

The trivia scene in Guadalupe County boasts some of the most successful teams in the area with BBQ heading to San Antonio Trivia’s semi-finals the past three years, and other Seguin teams claiming the top prize twice in a row.

Prizes range from gift cards to cash, but for Beer, BBQ & Queens, it’s about the fellowship, plain and simple.

Right now, that means playing virtually, which certainly lacks the atmosphere to which they are accustomed.

The smell of fresh brisket wafting in the air may be missing, but the joy of shared knowledge and team bonding stays present even as BBQ patiently awaits the return of their favorite night of the week.

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Forging a path to

Prosperity Story by Hunte r Kotrona k is

E

“

ven before COVID-19 began affecting the livelihoods of countless Americans, many of the less fortunate struggled to find stability in the United States economy. Since 1993, Guadalupe Valley Habitat for Humanity (GVHFH) has worked tirelessly to provide affordable housing for nearly 30 families in Seguin.

“The need for affordable housing is immense, and the lasting impact it can have on homeowners and their families is undeniable,” Executive Director Madeline Zwicke said. “Habitat for Humanity knows that a safe, decent, affordable home is fundamental to a family forging a path out of poverty. In a Habitat house, families find better health, more financial freedom, independence, and stability and security that far too many families simply can’t achieve with

The need for affordable housing is immense, and the lasting impact it can have on homeowners and their families is undeniable.xx

”

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 25

out a helping hand.”

Zwicke has been working with GVHFH for almost seven years, and can’t hide her passion for helping families in need around the world.

“I have had the opportunity to work with partner families and build in Bryan/ College Station, Guatemala, Chile, El Salvador, Portugal, Zambia, and now in my

“

I became hooked on Habitat almost immediately. Working with partner families and on the build sites solidified that I was in the right place.xx hometown of Seguin,” she said. “When I started working with Habitat, I just knew I wanted to work with people and make a difference. I became hooked on Habitat almost immediately. Working with partner families and on the build sites solidified that I was in the right place.”

Any non-profit organization can claim to have helped those in need, but Habitat for Humanity has concrete proof that they’re changing the world and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

“In the upcoming year, we are looking to build three homes instead of two. In the fall, we plan to launch our Critical Home Repair Program and begin doing repair projects,” Zwicke said. “Fortunately, we have been able to continue construction on the home we are currently building during this unknown time. Still, the closure of our

26 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

”

Monday - Saturday Lunch Special ReStore has impacted us greatly since we rely on funds from there to cover construction costs on new builds.”

GVHFH stands as a testament to the humanitarian and philanthropic values present in Seguin’s community.

Even in such uncertain times, the organization continues to provide hope for the less fortunate and prove that a world where every family has a decent place to live is an attainable goal.

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515 N.www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com King St., Ste.103 • Seguin, TX 78155 GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 27 www.SeguinFamilyMedicine.com

OntheSCENE

Beyond the Lines

Drawing to inspire, motivate, and fulfill

S t o ry by F el ic ia Fr a za r | p h o t o s by s t e v e v rooma n

M

ichelle Johnson has enjoyed drawing and coloring since she was young. She has found that art, particularly drawing, has soothing qualities that offer her an outlet that exceeds just a hobby.

Johnson has used her talents to craft a coloring book, guide others into the world of coloring, and create the Have Color Will Travel community.

“I always had a passion for drawing. As a child, I drew my own comics and things like that,” she said. “I’ve been known as a person that loves to color. I’ve been a coloring enthusiast my whole life prior to that.”

Just a few years ago, Johnson — who is usually an active person, always on the go — had surgery that had her on a slow road to recovery.

“Six weeks of inactivity and pain and not really knowing if I would be able to get back to what I was previously doing drew me into a pretty deep depression,” she said. “Even though I had plenty of things to do, none of them were really taking away the fear and the depression or the anxiety of the future.”

Getting tired of writing about her recovery in a journal, Johnson turned to drawing. After completing her drawing, Johnson posted it to Facebook, which garnered a lot of attention from her friends.

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 29

“

30 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

I try to make my free coloring pages to be motivational or uplifting.

“

“That was 2015, and people liked it,” she said. “They suggested I create a coloring book.”

She took their advice and began crafting more pages and compiling them for her first book, “Doodled Blooms,” which she said was very “therapeutic.”

As she began healing and drawing more, Johnson drew her inspiration to finish the book from her family.

Her husband’s grandmother began taking a turn with a cancer diagnosis, and Johnson’s mother was having a rough time transitioning into retirement.

“I gave myself this goal of finishing the book “Doodled Blooms” for my mother’s 70th birthday in January and in time for Grammy to be able to see the product of her effect on me and her love on me and love of my creativity and to give her something that I had made to color,” she said. “With the cancer and her hip injury, she wasn’t capable of doing a lot of stuff anymore, but she could color. So those were the two strong motivating factors to finishing the book. I did finish it in time, six months before she passed.”

The book reinvigorated her mother’s creativity, as well as others. Johnson was invited to the Seguin Public Library to offer a discussion on coloring and start a group session.

The event attracted about 75 people, spurring the library to create the Adult Coloring Club.

“I was really impacted by what I saw. The grownups in front of them had a page and great supplies, and they didn’t know how to choose a color to start coloring, or how to choose a page,” she said. “It really woke up something in me and that we lack education for adults and enrichment opportunities. Jackie and I conceived in doing once a month meetings. Then it became into me teaching art lessons.”

Johnson expanded those educational opportunities to the New Braunfels Public Library and began a group there as well.

With trying to work on a second book, teaching dance classes and working on other projects, Johnson felt it was time for her to take a step back from the coloring clubs and focus on her drawings.

Over time, Johnson created her blog Have Color Will Travel to expand the color community. It’s where she shares tips, ideas, creative coloring packages and free coloring sheets to the coloring community.

“Fall 2018, I started to focus more heavily on Have Color Will Travel,” she said. “That is when the free coloring pages started. I started my blog and started being more of an advocate for my business.”

In her online coloring shop, Johnson offers various postcards and bookmarks for people to purchase.

The free sheets which come out every four to six weeks are different works than what she creates for people to purchase.

“I draw for reasons other that have nothing to do with what I consider to be for a coloring page,” she said. “I try to make my free coloring pages to be motivational or uplifting.

My goal is always positivity. My last one my social media following chose.

It was a collection of flowers I was just drawing.”

Johnson plans to make her second book larger than the first with more coloring sheets.

“I’m planning it to be over 25 original drawings and ‘Doodled Blooms’ was 15,” she said. “There is some research that goes into each one. I’m challenging myself to do 25 completely different fonts.”

7/31/20

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UndertheHood

Mellow yellow A Car Meant for Adventure S t o ry & P h o t o s by R u s h ton Ski nne r

The interior of Mellow Yellow is a reflection of Stephen’s youthful personality. It’s seats were custom crafted in Mexico, and it sports an old school wheel with leather trim. Of course, the most unique items in the cab is the rubber chicken that hangs from the rear-view mirror, ready to be the copilot on whatever adventure Stephen and Mellow Yellow get up to.

34 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

A

came with “a It352ci and I

wanted a bigger engine, ya know, just for fun.

”

s overused as it is, the term “they don’t make ‘em like they used to” couldn’t apply more to this month’s feature.

Sold in 1965, this Ford Galaxie was put together by Seguin High School senior Stephen Garza with his father and grandfather. It harkens back to the days of easy riding and the freedom of the open road. Compared to cookie-cutter beige-mobiles, this bright yellow landyacht sticks out. Christened Mellow Yellow by the previous owner, its name is made official by the rear window decal that came with the car.

Modern cars having higher standards of safety, it’s pretty amazing Stephen’s parents allowed him to get such a cool, albeit less safe, car as his first. There are, however, lessons that can be learned from less computer assistance. Deeming it “the metal coffin,” he explained driving it makes him more aware.

“It taught me to relax and pay attention,” he said. “My dad and I were looking for my first car. We saw this one up in Dallas and it was like three thousand bucks, so we went to get it, and my dad drove it home.”

It ran, yes, but it needed a little TLC. To get Mellow Yellow ready for daily driver duty, Stephen and his dad picked up a Galaxie 500 of the same year as a parts car.

“That one came with a 352ci. and I wanted a bigger engine, ya know, just for fun,” he said. “My grandfather rebuilt the engine. I think it was his fifth time, he said it was his last time.”

Along with the powertrain, they pulled the headlights, chrome trim, and any other odds and ends they needed. A new coat of paint, and interior done in Mexico, completed Stephen’s build on a budget.

Of course with a car this old, no amount of fixing will stop the problems, the only thing you can do is learn to live with them. It’s these kinds of cars that teach someone like Stephen, who previously knew nothing about cars, more than enough to help them for the rest of his life.

GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING ~ SEGUIN 35

“

I’m not an expert in cars, but now I have a deeper understanding of what’s under the hood.

”

“In the beginning, I didn’t know why it was eating through belts so fast,” he said. “I would get stranded for hours.

It would become a half-day adventure.

I’m not an expert in cars, but now I have a deeper understanding of what’s under the hood.”

Breakdown after breakdown, problem after problem, Mellow Yellow forced Stephen to adapt or die. But how does it drive –– like a boat out of water; 36 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

stiffer suspension to accommodate for the larger than stock engine helps, but it’s really not a canyon carver. It looks nice, sounds nice, and floats over every bump in the road without a second thought. It’s not for hot rodding, racing or really anything other than cruising the countryside on a lone-star evening.

The most important part of this car is also what makes it unique. Mellow Yellow has character, and character goes a long way. The official song of this car is “Blue Sky” by The Allman Brothers Band; it’s a car for a Texas sunset after April showers turning damp, sunbleached fields into green. Hopping in for a ridealong is as nostalgic as skipping the final period math class on Friday, rocking and rolling out of town with school behind you, and the dog days of summer ahead.

Every first car is a major stepping stone. It represents the fact that you aren’t dependent as much as you used to be, and that massive hunk of Detroit iron in the driveway proves it. There is a duality to the phrase “they don’t make ‘em like they used to.” On one hand, what’s newer is, in most cases, better. New technology, especially in cars, improves most everything about driving — but on the other, there is value in what is outdated. As something grows older, disadvantages and downsides become character which, while worth its weight in gold, doesn’t weigh very much. It seems that time and time again, people want to connect with something, even if the alternative is objectively better.

So with Garza’sStephen’s last year of high school behind him, he’s ready to cruise over anything the open road throws at him, especially if he’s behind the wheel of Mellow Yellow.

Fa♥orite Finds This issue’s Favorite Finds are presented by Local Small business owners.

1 2 3 4

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38 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING

THE SEGUIN GAZETTE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT ALL OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Faces of seguin SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS SEGUINMAGAZINE@SEGUINGAZETTE.COM

Despite the distance

we’re all together.

Much love and appreciation to the community from The Seguin Gazette.

G u a d a l u p e C o u n t y l i v i n g

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