How and When to Let Go - Lessons from Two Crumbling Buildings

Greetings Fellow Travelers

We've all been there. Something or someone in our lives needs to go, pure and simple. It could be a ratty old toy, a stuffed animal from your childhood, or it could be someone very close who now has only evil intentions for you.

Like I said, we've all been there.

For my article today I'm going to use two structures located here in Corpus Christi as examples, the old Nueces County courthouse and Memorial coliseum. First, the courthouse.

This grand old structure was built in 1914 and was closed in 1977. I have some memories of going there with my father before it shut down and everything was moved to the new building. My favorite was the elevator.

It was the old style that required an operator. You would get in, tell him which floor you wanted to go to, and he would work the lever, taking you up or down. He had to stop it just so in order for the floor of the lift and the floor of the, well, floor, you were getting off on, to be at the same level. The "door" was one of those steel types that collapsed on itself in order to open.

A very creepy place, indeed. 

 

                                               Photo by Ken McCreless

                          The old Nueces County Courthouse

This building has been "empty" for 33 years now. And, for most of these 33 years it has been the center of a fight between those who want to knock it down and those who want to restore it, the latter being divided into different camps waging their own campaigns.

Now, we move on to the Memorial Coliseum. It has showcased many events over the years, some of which I attended. Concerts, sporting events and, more recently, the Corpus Christi Ice Rays hockey team. The Rays now play in the shiny new American Bank Center.



                                                          Photo by Ken McCreless

                                     Memorial Coliseum

As you can see the coliseum was built for strength. It is located on Shoreline Blvd, right across the street from Corpus Christi Bay. You can see the roof is being broken off by wind and time. Not surprising as the average wind speed in Corpus Christi is higher than that of the "Windy City," Chicago.

Memorial Coliseum was built in 1954, and since the Rays moved out it has been abandoned, except for a few events, the circus and such.

Recently a group won a court decision to have the demolition of this aged and crumbling structure stopped temporarily. This brings me to the crux of this piece.

When, and how, do we let go? I know, these are inanimate things. How can I compare this to an object with strong sentimental value, or a failing marriage?

Both of these buildings are in limbo. They were built for a purpose, served that purpose, and were sent on their way. Except, some people want to renovate them for a new purpose and others want to stop them from doing so.

There have been many good ideas presented for these buildings. At one time folks had the idea to turn the coliseum into a Bass Pro Shop. Others wanted to make it the focal point of a bayfront overhaul that would have boosted tourism. One of the more ridiculous objections mentioned that having a Ferris wheel would diminish the view of the bay.

A local man wanted to make the old courthouse into a tourist welcome center. There are many other decent ideas that would have these buildings serving the community RIGHT NOW.

However, there is a small but loud group here who do not want this community to grow. They want it to stay the way it is, crumbling structures and all.

And that is the connection. We humans are creatures of habit and, for the most part, fear change. Even those who seem to change all the time are merely refusing to switch their unstable mindset for fear of becoming "stale."

" Better the devil you know" is a phrase I heard long ago, and I see it everyday- and so do you.

And, so does the old Nueces County courthouse and the Memorial Coliseum. What can you do about it?

Well, concerning the above rotting buildings, nothing. The fossilized backwards-thinking crowd, will never allow these buildings to be fixed up and used, or razed and replaced with something beneficial and progressive, which the forward thinking folks here want, including myself.

Concerning your life? Well, that's up to you.

A good first step is to evaluate your thinking concerning change. Are you a wife who is regularly beaten but won't leave? Is it because you would have to uproot yourself and your children and flee? Wouldn't that be better than stagnating in the pool of refuse just because you are used to it?

What is your idea of doing things differently? If it means watching channel five instead of channel ten, then you need a re-think. And, no, having cheese puffs for a snack instead of popcorn during the wrestling pay-per-view does not count.

OK, here's my message, starting with the stagnant busy-bodies whose one joy is to stop my town from growing.

KNOCK IT OFF!! We need to grow and growth means change and change means stepping into new and maybe uncomfortable territory. It will also mean taking a chance every once in a while.

To those hurting from a bad relationship. See the above. You are willing to risk your life just to get to the movies, which by that I mean the hazards of driving. Please, be willing to risk your heart for a chance at happiness. See? Different circumstances, same lesson, same means of alleviation.

Think about it. There are aspects of your life that will always stay with you. You can keep all the memories and mementos you want, without hoarding, that is, and improve your life and the lives of your families significantly.

Don't be afraid to step out and change the course of your life. Live with love in your heart and a zeal for growth and miracles will happen, I promise you.