By Trent Rosser

A few weeks ago, I wrote about going to the Alamo. It was an exciting time to visit San Antonio, but that was not the real reason I was down there. I was there for more personal reasons; I had to say my last goodbye.

Last month I turned 50 years old. It hit me pretty hard. My wife kept asking what I wanted for my birthday, and after a few weeks I finally realized what it was that I wanted. No, take that back, it's not what I wanted, but what I needed! I needed to say my last goodbye. The last time I was in Rogers was when my grandmother passed away. Her funeral was in late March of 2002. I had not been back since. So for my birthday present, we were going on a trip. So Saturday morning, we packed up and headed that way. We stayed the next 2 nights in Temple, about 15 miles away. The next morning, we drove down the old highway that I used to travel daily to visit Rogers.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. That saying is just as true with the small town of Rogers. I'm sure my wife wanted to kill me all the way there because I kept saying things like "Whoa!! What happened to that house that was there? The old red mill is gone! Where the hell did the small town of Heidenheimer go? I swear, there used to be a small town here!"

Not to worry, the town is still there, they just moved the highway.

The first place we went to is the old house that my grandparents lived in. It was still there along with my grandfather's old shop. The shop itself was looking pretty ragged and it looked like they were putting new siding on the house. Other than that, it looked the same. Past memories flooded my mind and emotions broke through the wall I built around my heart. I regret not being able to go inside, but that would be weird for the people that live there. As much, and as often as we kept driving by real slow, I'm sure the owners probably thought we were casing the place!

The old bar that I used to frequent is still there, but it is no longer a bar. It is a donut shop. Across the street, was one of the only restaurants in town. Even when I was there before this place would change owners and names. To me, it will always be the old Steak and Egg. I was hoping to eat there, but being on Sunday, they were closed for the day. There were a couple of other eateries there, but they were closed on Sundays as well.

The next stop was the edge of town to pick up my old friend, Justin McDonald and his girlfriend Heather Pearson Strickland. They jumped in the back of the truck and Justin became my tour guide as we went to see the old sites. We talked and he guided me to the old iron bridges that I had longed to see. One of them is completely closed and is now on private land. The other is accessible by foot and we were able to walk across the bridge. Justin and I reminisced of the old times while my wife and Heather talked and got to know each other.

By this time, my wife and I were starving. So we all headed back to Temple to eat, since everything in Rogers was closed. We did go by Oscar to eat at their only restaurant, but it was packed! After we ate, we went by Lake Belton and then to Seaton to go to Sefcik Hall. This is a place where I spent many days and nights drinking and playing pool. Upstairs was the dance hall and downstairs was the 3 pool tables and bar. On certain nights, I remember sawdust falling onto the pool table as the dance was going on above me! As soon as we pulled up, my heart sank as I saw the closed sign. Maybe Sunday was not the best day to go? Afterwards, a couple of more stops, we took Justin and Heather home. It was time for us to go back to the motel and get ready to leave the next morning.

I mentioned the little town of Heidenheimer earlier, I said how the highway moved to the edge of town and no longer goes through town. Unfortunately, the same fate is going to happen to Rogers. Justin informed me that they are moving the highway away from town. But that doesn't mean that Rogers is a dying town, far from it! Next Month will be a new event in Rogers called Springfest. It will be a barbecue cook off with a few vendors as well. From what I gather, they are hoping it will become a yearly event. I, personally, wish it well and pray that it is a huge success. If it is a big hit and does become a yearly event, then I might be able to make it back again.

Now let me backup a little bit. When we laid my grandmother to rest 19 years ago, the weather was cloudy and rainy. Not a hard rain, just a slow and drizzle. One of my cousins said that it was my grandmother's way of saying goodbye. The entire time we were there, from the time we pulled into town, the skies and the rain were the same as they were 19 years earlier. And before we went to Rogers that morning, I had to make my visit to the cemetery. It was amazing that I pulled right up to my grandparents grave.bi remembered exactly where they were buried. After a few minutes of pulling a few pieces of grass from the rocks, my wife addressed the fact that we didn't bring flowers. So to Walmart we went and within 10 minutes we were back. I knew in my heart that this would be the last time I will ever be back in this area. In reality, I would never be back to this cemetery to talk to my grandparents ever again! I had to say my goodbyes.

As we checked out the hotel and left Rogers and my grandparents in the rear view mirror, my heart sank. It was not just leaving behind a small town and memories of a simpler time, I was leaving my childhood and innocence. The people that look out for each other. The place where neighbors still talk to each other. A place where I could talk to my grandmother about anything without judgment. A town that is screaming with peaceful feelings. As I turned 50, my present was to properly say goodbye. I was able to say my final goodbye to my grandparents. I did that in person that rainy morning at the cemetery.

Now one more goodbye: To the citizens of Rogers and for the town itself. Thank you for the memories. Thank you and farewell.