From NOLO I headed north to Monroe, LA again (had to return a POS camera) so I stopped and hoped to see the Duckmen again. No such luck. Evasive bastards. Headed to Tyler, TX for the night since they had a RUDY's BBQ...which I ate for dinner and breakfast.
After Tyler, I rushed to Waco, TX, my favorite destination: The Branch Davidian Compound. Last time I was in Waco I had back up...my pal Jenn (well, if you count someone who ditches you and leaves you with strangers as back up). This time, I was solo and really just curious about how the place had changed over the last few years. Why? I have no idea. Mostly, I was wondering how much the place has grown and if the troops of religious zealots had returned...and if so, what did they hope to gain?
The place looked much like it did in 2011 when I was there. The only major change was the awesome fence surrounding the place. Imagine my shock as I drove past the church and saw Simon, the man who had given me the previous tour in 2011. He was tending the garden and as I made my way to his location, he kept working, not looking up until I was almost standing next to him. He wasn't wearing the hat I'd come to associate with him, but a simple baseball cap. His teeth had been fixed and when smiled he wasn't as scary as he had been previously. I introduced myself and told him I just stopped by to check things out. He said I must have come back for a reason. I insisted I was just curious...and he proceeded to break into a sermon that would revel all sermons...talking about how I was sent there and how I should just go home and pack my things and come back because it was God's will. Hmm...that'll teach me to visit. Charles Pope (the most recent preacher) called Simon and he disappeared, rushing to do Pope's bidding.
I wandered over to the church where two dogs were scurrying my way with big barks and wagging tails. Along the way a small rat snake cross my path...reminding me where I was and that evil, scary crap was all around.
Simon came back and asked my name. When I told him, he started talking about how Jess is a branch and I was meant to be at the compound. I eased over to my car and kept smiling...wondering if anyone would notice if I were kidnapped. We exchanged numbers and I was quickly on my way. Yes, fine, judge me. But frankly, I think being on the inside with a scoop of the next massively religious Waco event would be cool. Or maybe not.
From there, I went to the library to do some serious research, stopped by the Texas Ranger Museum for a tour and spent a great bit of time at the hotel, chatting it up with the a local about the day Waco went wild.
After Tyler, I rushed to Waco, TX, my favorite destination: The Branch Davidian Compound. Last time I was in Waco I had back up...my pal Jenn (well, if you count someone who ditches you and leaves you with strangers as back up). This time, I was solo and really just curious about how the place had changed over the last few years. Why? I have no idea. Mostly, I was wondering how much the place has grown and if the troops of religious zealots had returned...and if so, what did they hope to gain?
The place looked much like it did in 2011 when I was there. The only major change was the awesome fence surrounding the place. Imagine my shock as I drove past the church and saw Simon, the man who had given me the previous tour in 2011. He was tending the garden and as I made my way to his location, he kept working, not looking up until I was almost standing next to him. He wasn't wearing the hat I'd come to associate with him, but a simple baseball cap. His teeth had been fixed and when smiled he wasn't as scary as he had been previously. I introduced myself and told him I just stopped by to check things out. He said I must have come back for a reason. I insisted I was just curious...and he proceeded to break into a sermon that would revel all sermons...talking about how I was sent there and how I should just go home and pack my things and come back because it was God's will. Hmm...that'll teach me to visit. Charles Pope (the most recent preacher) called Simon and he disappeared, rushing to do Pope's bidding.  |
| The church at the Branch Davidian Compound 2013 |
Simon came back and asked my name. When I told him, he started talking about how Jess is a branch and I was meant to be at the compound. I eased over to my car and kept smiling...wondering if anyone would notice if I were kidnapped. We exchanged numbers and I was quickly on my way. Yes, fine, judge me. But frankly, I think being on the inside with a scoop of the next massively religious Waco event would be cool. Or maybe not.
From there, I went to the library to do some serious research, stopped by the Texas Ranger Museum for a tour and spent a great bit of time at the hotel, chatting it up with the a local about the day Waco went wild.
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