Toastmasters Learning Institute and Old Haunts

We just got back from the Toastmasters Leadership Institute at Concord Baptist Church in the southern side of Dallas, close to Dallas Executive Airport and Southwest Center Mall. I was there to take Vice President of Education training on behalf of Hillcrest Club. Roxanne was there to take Sergeant at Arms training on behalf of Roving 49ers.

Since we were down there, I was curious to see what the area looks like now. Some places I recognized and some places have changed so much that I couldn't even remember what they used to look like.

We went inside the mall, which was a rather unsettling experience. It seemed to be run down and to have a really low occupancy rate. We drove by our old house on Canelo and Mark Trail Way. On the whole, the exterior of the house looks about the same. There are now windows where the doors were in the garage that my dad had built behind the house. It made me wonder if they've turned the garage into an apartment.

The old West Cliff Mall up the street was torn down years ago and replaced with a strip mall. St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, where my Scout Troop was, is still there.

We drove over to the old church building for Beverly Hills Baptist Church. It's still standing, but looked like maintenance is marginal at best. I thought I saw what looked like ceiling hanging down in one of the upstairs rooms.

The old Bronco Bowl entertainment center is gone. In its place is a Home Depot.

I wish we'd had more time to drive around and explore, but I didn't want to spend the whole day over there, either.