I adore the bird paddle boats at Fair Park in Dallas. They have both swans and mallards, but the swans are best – a delightful blend of elegance and playfulness.
My boyfriend runs a boat shop, and once built a beautiful mahogany boat. If I built a boat, I’d create the ultimate swan paddle boat. Mine would have fold-out wings to shade you from the relentless Texan sun.
If it came down to it, my boyfriend would be happy to help me with such a silly project. He once said, “We don’t have to do anything normal if we don’t want to. We can be happy eccentrics and do what we please.”
I love that he is whimsical, yet practical, and that he understands this about me, as well. Of course, I wouldn’t have moved to Texas if he wanted me to be normal!
I was going to say a lot more here: I was gonna go into more details about my bf’s eccentricities (he slept in a coffin as a teen – a coffin that he built himself) and how he’s a bit of an anomaly here in Texas, and how his business partner and him are like an updated version of “The Odd Couple,” but… I have run out of time for today – argh! – so I will leave you with a fitting quote:
The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself.
—Rita Mae Brown
What about you? Do you think you are eccentric? What are your quirks?
Tui Snider is an author, speaker, and photographer who specializes in North Texas travel, cemetery symbols, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction – but then, I moved to Texas!”
Snider’s best-selling books include Paranormal Texas , Understanding Cemetery Symbols, and 100 Things to Do in Dallas - Fort Worth Before You Die.
Snider has several more books in progress, and enjoys connecting with writers and readers all over the globe through social media, her newsletter and her website: TuiSnider.com.
I love this too! I’ve never seen a swan paddle boat before, and fold-out wings would be awesome. Especially if they could, in addition to shading you from the sun, allow you to fly (:
And i love that you have a wonderful whimsical fiance to share your life with.
Thanks for writing your blog, Tui! It’s always a bright spot. Hope your Thanksgiving was BIG FUN.
I love this! I hope that you get your swan boat some day because, seriously, how rad would that be?? And hooray for finding a fiance who compliments you! I always think that people who travel a bit outside of the mainstream have a harder time finding partners, but when we do, it is oh so much sweeter to know that there aren’t that many people out there who “get” you/him.
C. in Oz: You make a great point about us ‘non-mainstream’ types!
Gail: Thanksgiving was fun, indeed! Hope yours was splendid, too.
As for the swan boat, if/when I do get seriously cracking on its design and build, you 2 will be the first to know! :)
~Tui