Alamo Couple Bring Hometown Traditions, Spirit to Resort
by Rocio Villalobos
As the only Louisianans at Alamo’s Trophy Gardens RV Resort, Gail and Bruce Field take great pride in leading the Mardis Gras festivities. The couple, married 61 years, have been visiting the park for more than two decades and made it their full-time home three years ago. Though they have brought their home-state traditions to the RGV, they’ve also fully embraced becoming Texans, and it’s had an influence on some of those traditions.
For their local Mardis Gras celebration, Gail leads a team of helpers to cook a pot of gumbo for 160 people. It’s a full-day job--taking six hours--but everyone goes home happy and with their bellies full. Bruce has the drinks covered, making his renowned Bloody Marys and hurricanes.
“We make them a little different here,” Gail said. “I say we make them ‘Texas style.’ We use Tampico fruit juice, and it works out really well.”
March is a busy time for the pair. In that same week, they’re also involved in the city’s Texas Independence Day Parade. Gail spends weeks organizing participants from the park, including its line-dancing group. They enter in it to win it…and they do. In recent years, they won in the categories of “Best Senior Park” and “Best Overall.” Again, they add their NOLA flair.
“Our daughter brings beads, Bruce sorts them, and we throw them to people in the audience,” Gail said. “We have a lot of fun doing that, and it helps us not feel like we’re missing out so much on the parades back home.”
While this is their busiest time of year, they’re never bored, always finding plenty to do.
“We go to dances once, twice, sometimes three times a week,” Bruce said. “We like the local people; people down here are friendly, no matter where you go.”
Whether out in town or in the park, the Fields know how to have fun. They recently bought a cherry-red, custom golf cart modeled after a vintage car and equipped with a reverse camera, windshield wipers, a built-in charger, and other features.
“It’s got some things you don’t need, but it was everything we wanted, and it’s been so much fun for us,” Bruce said. "Enthusiasm is contagious.”