Tyler, Texas
America’s Rose Capital

While on the train to Newark Airport I got the news that Boris had been in a serious car accident in Buffalo, Texas near the family farm.  He was taken first to Palestine and then transferred to Tyler for surgery.  I had to do a very quick turn around in Houston.  I got to bed about 1:30 in the morning and slept before the four-hour drive to Tyler later that morning.

I slept the first night in Boris’ hospital room on a chair. I was not the only family member camped out at the hospital.
©Jean Janssen

Although I grew up in Victoria, Texas with a population of about 50,000 when I lived there, I have become a city girl.  I spend almost no time at the farm; the conditions are just too rustic for me.  As a result, it had been a long time since I had driven this route.  Leaving I45 in Buffalo, I traveled through some beautiful East Texas country on two lane roads.  The highway widened after Palestine and the drive from Palestine to Tyler was particularly lovely.

Brick street and a home in the Historic Azalea District of Tyler, Texas

I have actually never been to Tyler before.  The East Texas Medical center is inside the loop about a mile from downtown near a residential area of historical significance.  The Azalea District features brick streets and homes built from the 1880s to the 1940s.  The District was recognized in 2003 in National Register of Historic Places.  In March each year, there are home and garden tours through the area.

The Texas Rose Festival in Tyler, Texas

Tyler is actually known for another flower, the rose.  The annual Rose Festival is in October each year.  The Tyler Rose Festival began in 1933 and was renamed the Texas Rose Festival in 1936 in honor of the Texas Centennial.  Except during WWII, the Rose Festival has been an annual event.  While the festival celebrates the rose-growing industry, activities center on the Rose Queen and her court.

A Texas Rose Festival Queen

A guard posted outside a patient’s room two doors down from Boris’ room.
©Jean Janssen

Boris sustained serious injuries that will probably necessitate another surgery in the future.  After a five-day hospital stay, we are hoping to transfer him to an inpatient rehabilitation facility.  You know it is serious when he had us cancel 4 upcoming trips.  Since I have been here I haven’t seen much of Tyler, but there are interesting things going on in the hospital.   Two doors down from Boris’ room a criminal is recovering and there has been a 24 police watch.  I had hoped for more excitement, but no hostage situations ever developed.

One of the evaluators that came through told me that there are two major hospital chains in the area and rather than specializing most services are duplicated.  She told us there are 5 helicopters serving this small area, clearly many more than she thought necessary.  I have always seen at least one on the ETMC pad; today I saw a second one come in with a patient.

an arrival
©Jean Janssen

I am hoping for an opportunity to visit this attractive area of the state under better circumstances.