Sit. Stare. Wing it.

The cartoon forest of umbrellas slightly quiver – from the light breeze or excitement? They always look like they are about to spin into some sort of Disney dance.

It could be Oz.

Water giggling in the centerpiece fountain. The tease. She coyly uses tropical plants as a burlesque dancer uses her fans.

A small Lizard peers over the umbrella’s edge. Sneak attack being planned. Preparing to challenge a small bird for any leftover crumbs.

The Blue Angels overhead.

Feet up, short sleeves, sun glasses, gyros plate.

A place to put life on simmer and savor the company.

You dine and chat. Not shovel and run.

There’s no velvet rope. Not judgmental. Must be their colorful nature.©

Hidden in plain sight, the cherished Mediterraneo Market and Café’s patio is pinned like a bright brooch on granny’s winter coat. Tourists rush past barely glancing – except maybe in quick amusement at the strip center’s architecture.

Seriously? A Tudor village. In Space City. Directly across from NASA. What were they thinking?

Maybe it was “contrast and compare”.

Who knows. It was the late 1950’s.

Built two stories with shops down and offices or lofts above, the dark-beamed buildings (at least they didn’t go with thatched roofs) are probably living on borrowed time.

While the grocery store moved out, there’s one of the oldest Farmer’s Market in the area here on Saturday.

The well stocked non-chain health food store looks rooted in its’ spot. Next door is the yoga studio, next to the tall Clock Tower, a resale shop, a Do-it-yourself Dog Wash place, and the dinner theater.

See. Everything an Olde English village would need.

You can sit inside the restaurant.

Often have soccer on the big screen. NASA memorabilia alternating with Greek travel posters on the red walls. And you’ll want to examine their Wall of Fame covered with notes and pictures from movie stars, celebrities, and dignitaries: Cher, Farrah Fawcett, Annie Lennox, Cold Play, Backstreet Boys….We’ll just let you be surprised at who found themselves here – and who from then on, whenever they were in Houston, insisted on deliveries backstage or at the hotel.

What concrete apron of parking lot? You never notice it once you step over the curb. Must be a mystic curtain there. ©

But outside is the place to be.

An oasis.

The never-ending Greek music lingering, but not intruding.

This day the Blue Angels were making passes practicing for the big Wings Over Houston Air Show.

Vintage plane. Flying over the little island in Clear Lake. Our house is about where the word “lake” is. (Image: Billy Smith:Hou.Chron.com)

Nova had a great show about aviation during WW I recently.

You can watch the entire episode here.

At first aviators were really all in one big fraternity: brothers in the sky…until they figure out about how to use planes for more than just locating the enemy’s gun positions and reporting troop movements.

Tricky how they eventually got the bullets not to shoot off the propellers.

At the start of the war, the Royal Air Force had a little over 100 pilots – at the end of the war, several thousand.

Demonstrates that necessity really is the mother of invention.

Kick-starts rapid advancement and progress.

Great video. Cool planes. You’ll find it fascinating.

Dashing young pilot. San Diego Air and Space Museum /USPD:pub.date/Commons.wikimedia.org

Have to admire those first pilots in those early fragile planes.

Volunteered. Soon knew the risks. Every time one was lost, another stepped up.

One individual determined to risk all – to sacrifice – for those back home.

Taking up a dangerous challenge to move knowledge and understanding forward.

There have always been those who dared:  explorers of land, sea, and sky.

Squint really hard and you can see three vintage planes there. Don’t laugh the leash was around my ankles. Molly saw squirrels. Closer prey is always more attention worthy, she advises.©

If was up to me, I’d buy Virgin Galactic tickets. I’d apply at SpaceX 

The next grand quest. Baby steps into a vast openness.

What is out there? Someday, they will know.

When will they fly me to the moon? It will happen.

(Tech titans who want to launch you into space)

What do you bet a bunch of old geezers will be on flights ASAP?

Check those walkers at the gate. Won’t need them in space’s zero gravity weightlessness.

Note to self: Ask Branson about a burger/hot dog stand at the space port. Want to at least see the bright stars in passengers eyes.

Where would we be without those who see long?

Vanguards with toes over the curb. Pushing the unknown.

The dreamers stepping past the broken glass.

I sit with umbrellas shaded from the sun and wonder as the fountain bubbles, the lizard peers down calculating the distance, and the Blue Angels soar over head.

Mind over magic.

Even in Oz.

Philosopher Mouse of the Hedge.

Dancing umbrellas on a patio – in an Olde English Tudor-style village in Texas – plopped down next to NASA. Anything really is possible, Toto.©

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