Bookmark - River Oaks Garden Statue

Captured with the Bigger Cahoona on the Azalea Trail here in Houston a couple of years ago.  To me it's always been interesting that these rich folks actually open their homes up for tours for a few days out of the year.  A chance to see how "the other side" lives, and get a few shots that wouldn't be available otherwise.

Some would say it'd be so nice to have big homes like these with lush gardens full of statues, hedges and beautiful pathways.  But I've never been at all attracted to such a lifestyle, feeling much more at home in rundown, lower- to lower-middle class surroundings.  This is why I was more at home in the little countryside villages of Mexico; there's something alluring about the day-to-day struggle for survival, and the people are more real.  The irony is that we've done very well for ourselves and, Lord willing, are set for a comfortable retirement...but I'm a little out of my element and do miss being in such places with such folks.