Monday’s 12-mile day ended in Huffman.

Ben & Frieda Sessions met in post WWII Germany, married, moved to the States, and raised ten kids together

Well out of Houston, Huffman feels like a tiny one-horse town. I was invited in by Ben & Frieda Sessions, who are in their late 70’s. Last night was my second night at their place. Ben is a retired high school German teacher. He met Frieda in Deutschland, just a handful of years after the fall of the Third Reich. Frieda was working in a counter-intelligence position for the Americans at the time, and as this brought her to be shunned by many in her home community, it made it easier for her to meet Ben, who was stationed in her native Bavaria at the time. Unlike the United States, in Germany it’s very common to ask “strangers” if you can join them at their semi-occupied restaurant tables. Ben & Frieda met when she took a seat across from him in a local restaurant. The two ultimately married and moved to Texas. They’re in their 54th year of marriage here; they have 10 kids, 20 grandkids, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Each has broken an ankle in recent months, and I was delighted to help them today with changing light bulbs, raking leaves, water plants, and relocating stuff on the porches of their cottage. Their three acres is on Luce’s Bayou, and it fascinates me to hear that they see an alligator every so often.
Ben offered me a ride to the next town, as so many other friendly hosts have done. While I love such generous offers, I must continue to turn them all down– otherwise I’m not WALKING across America. That said, 18-19 miles of Hwy 90 await me today, as I walk from Huffman, through Dayton, to Liberty, where the local Luxury Inn has invited me to a complimentary night’s stay. Forecast is for sunny skies, no wind, high of 61 F– EXCELLENT walking weather!!