Soon, drives to Texas were occurring with intense frequency until they too became part of the routine.

Nearly every other weekend of 2020, Mike and his wife, Dolly, often accompanied by their children, Larsson and Maxey, would drive five hours to Taylor, TX to visit with Mike’s decade estranged, recently widowed mom, Selma.

Selma’s health had deteriorated; not suddenly, but rather due to untreated illness for several years. After the passing of her beloved husband, her health quickly took a turn. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and has since been hospitalized.

The journeys through Texas were always emotional. Reconnecting with a beloved family member whose mind and memories were fragmenting and whose dogs and home had been practically abandoned by circumstance—it was a lot. And while it was difficult to stomach the events, the beauty was there, in the decay and patina of those Texas roads—practically abandoned but no less magical, beautiful, inspiring.