How is this for just plain serendipity?
Last week I was looking at hotels for our stay in Waco, TX where my wife and I were going to see our son's first college baseball games. Looking at the various options, the usual Hampton Inns, La Quinta, that kind of place, I for some reason decided to look if there were any B&B's in town.
We've never stayed in B&B's, I think mostly because we have traveled with at least one kid for the last 21 years wherever we went. So I looked at a few in Waco, and found one that looked nice called The Cotton Palace. It was more than the hotel options, but I said to my wife: "Let's give it a try. Maybe we will run into someone interesting."
We checked in last night, met at the door by Becky, the nicest lady you can imagine. When we told her we were in town for the baseball weekend at Baylor, she about flipped. Her father, 86 years old, was the longtime head coach at Baylor, and was still very active in all their athletics. He would be there at breakfast tomorrow, she said.
So this morning we marched downstairs, and he was there - ready to serve us breakfast. Dutch Schroeder is his name, and if you know Baylor University, I guess the name is pretty much an institution. Dutch Gardens is between the baseball and softball stadiums, and The Dutch Schroeder room is in the football stadium.
Dutch sat with us for about two hours over coffee,and told us stories about his teams, his players, the war, his coaching career. Twice his eyes teared up as he recalled the things folks at Baylor had done for him. I saw him at the game later in the day, and met his lovely wife.
It was such an amazing two hours; he is such a special guy. Still full of vigor - he actually just left Baylor's athletic department staff about 6 years ago. I can't wait for tomorrow, to spend another breakfast listening to Dutch.
How lucky! Just by chance I happen to choose the B&B owned by this 60 year baseball coach! And to think I could have been in some institutional breakfast buffet!
Original Post
