El Paso

My dad fondly remembered growing up in El Paso, Texas.  As a family we went there a couple of times when I was younger.  One time we went there for his parents' 50th Anniversary.  I remember that the celebration party was held in the red brick chapel that my great-grandpa was in charge of building.  We played hide and seek with our cousins in the large and uniquely built chapel.  All of the twists and turns in the chapel allowed for great hiding places.  If I remember correctly, it was the first LDS chapel constructed in Texas.  My dad was very proud of his family's heritage and its history with the church in Texas and Mexico.  We got to hang out at the house he grew up in.

Another time we went to El Paso just for fun.  I think it was on this trip that we spent a lot of time at the house my dad grew up in.  We hiked up the this big hill that was just up the street from the house.  We played games in the court in the backyard, and swam in the swimming pool.  I vaguely remember a pinata in the backyard.  It seemed to me that my dad felt very comfortable being back in El Paso even though he hadn't lived there for a long time.

I might be making this up, but I feel like I went to El Paso with my dad by myself on one trip.  I remember going to visit Grandma and Grandpa Pierce in the care center they lived in.  This must have been shortly before my dad passed away.  My dad was very patient with his mother, and able to comfort and calm her.  Her eyes lit up when she saw him come into the room.  I don't think her memory was very good at this time, but she was very happy to see him.