General Discussion

Ilsa

(64,561 posts)

124. My friends at Naval Air Station Beeville used to

Fri May 15, 2026, 11:38 PM

18 hrs ago

call it Bugville. They even had a corkboard with all kinds of garden insects and roaches pinned on it. My friends said they'd never seen anything like it.

We grew about 30 miles from Beeville. Our first house was on the edge of town. We had a rattlesnake in our backyard close to the house. Our dad was going to kill it with a hoe. When he saw the size of it, he got his shotgun. If that thing had gotten into the house...

Yeah, he was whip-smart, especially in math. He won state UIL awards (like first place) in various math and related subjects.

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Highlight:

I've been dreading having to write this post since yesterday. [View all] Ilsa 21 hrs ago OP

You are loving and stronger than you realize. Don't forget that. nt in2herbs 21 hrs ago #1

Thank you. I thought your brother was wonderful. ananda 21 hrs ago #2

I am so terribly sad to read your post. Texas Towelie sinkingfeeling 21 hrs ago #3

hugs to you and thanks for being a great sibling and human being msongs 21 hrs ago #4

So sorry for your loss... anciano 21 hrs ago #5

Your brother was a DU fixture, and he'll be missed. greatauntoftriplets 21 hrs ago #6

Lost a breath there with your news. I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I will really miss him. Bless you. marble falls 21 hrs ago #7

Oh no, Ilsa! I'm so sorry! LearnedHand 21 hrs ago #8

I am so sorry for your loss, my dear Ilsa. Nevilledog 21 hrs ago #9

I am so sorry for your loss. Texas Towlie was a fixture for here for a long time. I am glad he had a caring Maraya1969 21 hrs ago #10

Thank you for letting us know. Permanut 21 hrs ago #11

I'm sorry to hear this MustLoveBeagles 21 hrs ago #12

Most sincere condolences... 2naSalit 21 hrs ago #13

oh no Skittles 21 hrs ago #14

I'm sorry for your loss, Texas Towelie was a prolific poster with a great sense of humor Shellback Squid 21 hrs ago #15

my family has shrunk also. Hugs to you, ilsa. erronis 21 hrs ago #16

I am so, so sorry. mgardener 21 hrs ago #17

With you. madamesilverspurs 21 hrs ago #18

Will miss him. Peace. cachukis 21 hrs ago #19

Life can be so complicated sometimes senseandsensibility 21 hrs ago #20

I've no words. NewHendoLib 21 hrs ago #21

TT was always so warm and sweet when I talked to him. I am SO sorry for your loss. Maru Kitteh 21 hrs ago #22

Good grief malaise 21 hrs ago #23

Nooooooooo!!! littlemissmartypants 21 hrs ago #24

I don't want my shock at your news to overwhelm my thoughts and best wishes for you. hlthe2b 21 hrs ago #25

I'm not going anywhere! Ilsa 21 hrs ago #47

That is SOOO good to hear....! hlthe2b 21 hrs ago #65

Yes, I very much agree, he will be missed blue_jay 20 hrs ago #67

He will be missed here and Thank you for the life you shared with us about your family. marked50 21 hrs ago #26

Oh No! I will miss him, many condolences irisblue 21 hrs ago #27

Oh no! Sorry to hear that, RIP. Initech 21 hrs ago #28

I'm so sorry. Coventina 21 hrs ago #29

You have my heartfelt condolences on your loss. Solly Mack 21 hrs ago #30

I'm so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed Paul's posts. area51 21 hrs ago #31

My heart hurts for you even as I thank you for this very sad news. I always clicked on his posts Deuxcents 21 hrs ago #32

We are here if you need to share. BeneteauBum 21 hrs ago #33

So sorry to hear this. Jim__ 21 hrs ago #34

So sorry for your (and our) loss. no_hypocrisy 21 hrs ago #35

Sorry Ilsa for your loss. BootinUp 21 hrs ago #36

Oh, this hits hard. blm 21 hrs ago #37

Damn. ❤️ underpants 21 hrs ago #38

My sympathies, Ilsa, to you & your family. CrispyQ 21 hrs ago #39

I'm glad I clicked on your thread. OAITW r.2.0 21 hrs ago #40

Ilsa, I lost my brother a few years ago - TBF 21 hrs ago #41

Sorry to hear. Will miss his posts. Godspeed.... surfered 21 hrs ago #42

Deepest condolences SheltieLover 21 hrs ago #43

I'm very sad to hear this Renew Deal 21 hrs ago #44

Dearest, Ilsa Niagara 21 hrs ago #45

Oh, no. I'm so sorry for your loss. bucolic_frolic 21 hrs ago #46

May you find peace in your heart... ZDU 21 hrs ago #48

This is horrible news. My deepest condolences. Liberal In Texas 21 hrs ago #49

My deepest condolences. sop 21 hrs ago #50

Holding you in love and light, Ilsa. Your brother was such an integral niyad 21 hrs ago #51

Gut punch. hamsterjill 21 hrs ago #52

May he rest in peace. I am sorry to read of his passing Tanuki 21 hrs ago #53

My sympathy to you, and your family JoseBalow 21 hrs ago #54

😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 a kennedy 21 hrs ago #55

I am so very sorry, llsa. debm55 21 hrs ago #56

I'm so sorry for your loss Bettie 21 hrs ago #57

... Delphinus 21 hrs ago #58

Ilsa, your kindness is shining through. badhair77 21 hrs ago #59

I'm so sorry, Ilsa. tanyev 21 hrs ago #60

I'm so sorry, Ilsa! hatrack 21 hrs ago #61

May his memory be a blessing for you. TheRickles 21 hrs ago #62

Oh my. I always read his posts. I am so sorry for your loss. This is a loss for us LoisB 21 hrs ago #63

My heart goes out to you. Hope22 21 hrs ago #64

omg.. TexasT is my friend and I'm crying Cha 21 hrs ago #66

Your brother was lucky to have you in his life. waterwatcher123 20 hrs ago #68

Oh, no. Ilsa, I'm so sorry for your loss. I liked Paul, who contributed so much here. You did all you highplainsdem 20 hrs ago #69

Wishing you strength and serenity as you mourn. 3catwoman3 20 hrs ago #70

Ilsa, my deepest condolences to you and your family. HeartsCanHope 20 hrs ago #71

. Omaha Steve 20 hrs ago #72

So sad to see this and very sorry for your loss mountain grammy 20 hrs ago #73

I will hold you in my heart, He is at peace now. Grey5 20 hrs ago #74

So very sorry for the passing of your brother TexasTowelie. Fla Dem 20 hrs ago #75

I'm so sorry! CaptainTruth 20 hrs ago #76

I'm so sorry for your loss, and also for ours. TT was a valued member of DU. Ocelot II 20 hrs ago #77

I too loved his posts. Figarosmom 20 hrs ago #78

So sorry for your loss. He was great. I looked forward to his posts. applegrove 20 hrs ago #79

I am so sorry for your loss, and our loss on this site. 58Sunliner 20 hrs ago #80

May he find the peace in his next life that was denied to him in this one. Buns_of_Fire 20 hrs ago #81

He was my favorite poster. bmbmd 20 hrs ago #82

Peace be with you. mobeau69 20 hrs ago #83

Oh NO!!! calimary 20 hrs ago #84

Sad to learn that we have lost him. He was an important presence here jmbar2 20 hrs ago #85

. Wiz Imp 20 hrs ago #86

Texas Towelie was one of those posters who made DU what it was. betsuni 20 hrs ago #87

I cannot think of a better way to say it. OldBaldy1701E 11 hrs ago #172

My heart hurts for you. herding cats 20 hrs ago #88

Ohh, Cat... reading your post Cha 18 hrs ago #131

How are you holding up, Cha?❤️ herding cats 1 hr ago #224

Ohh Cat, I'm thinking it's been Cha 17 min ago #228

I'm so sorry for your sadness and loss. NoSheep 20 hrs ago #89

Sonnet 71: No longer mourn for me when I am dead - William Shakespeare Xipe Totec 20 hrs ago #90

So sorry for your loss awesomerwb1 20 hrs ago #91

condolences to the whole family gopiscrap 20 hrs ago #92

I'm so sorry. yardwork 20 hrs ago #93

So sorry for your loss, Ilsa. As you can see from the responses, wnylib 20 hrs ago #94

This is heartbreaking news. I'm so sorry, lapucelle 20 hrs ago #95

Oh no! We love Texas Towelie LeftInTX 20 hrs ago #96

My friends at Naval Air Station Beeville used to Ilsa 18 hrs ago #124

I believe Paul said he had a degree in statistics. LeftInTX 17 hrs ago #146

Paul and I had discussed South Texas LetMyPeopleVote 6 hrs ago #205

So sorry to hear an about you loss. He will be missed here in DU FloridaBlues 20 hrs ago #97

Gonna miss his presence here Blue Owl 20 hrs ago #98

Always enjoyed his posts. BoomaofBandM 20 hrs ago #99

May his memory always be for a blessing PCIntern 20 hrs ago #100

I am so sorry, Ilsa. dflprincess 20 hrs ago #101

Sincere Condolences llsa gademocrat7 20 hrs ago #102

Ilsa, I'm so, so sorry canetoad 20 hrs ago #103

Your brother, our Texas Towelie Smilo 20 hrs ago #104

So sorry to hear this sad news orangecrush 20 hrs ago #105

I'm sorry. redwitch 19 hrs ago #106

Isla, this is too much, I am so sorry for your loss and of course I have read hundreds and hundreds of Leghorn21 19 hrs ago #107

Peace PJMcK 19 hrs ago #108

"" AllaN01Bear 19 hrs ago #109

Oh no! My heart! sprinkleeninow 19 hrs ago #110

A rip in the fabric of DU unblock 19 hrs ago #111

I'm so sorry godsentme 19 hrs ago #112

One of our sisters moved there with her husband Ilsa 18 hrs ago #128

Wind blown too godsentme 18 hrs ago #134

OMG. Ilsa 18 hrs ago #136

Oh wow! godsentme 6 hrs ago #204

I am poorer for reading your post Lithos 19 hrs ago #113

RIP Texas Towelie blue-wave 19 hrs ago #114

Texas Towlie was a great person LetMyPeopleVote 19 hrs ago #115

I'm devastated. Aristus 19 hrs ago #116

I'm so sad to hear this FullySupportDems 19 hrs ago #117

Oh no. So sorry to hear that. He will be missed around here. Marie Marie 19 hrs ago #118

I know that this is about the last thing on your mind right now, but niyad 19 hrs ago #119

I am so sorry for your loss, IIsa it is so hard losing a brother. sheshe2 19 hrs ago #120

So sorry for your losses. How strong you are to survive all the losses question everything 19 hrs ago #121

My deepest condolences! He will be missed! denvine 19 hrs ago #122

i'm so sorry to hear this. thank you for letting us know. i'm gonna miss seeing him around this place. orleans 19 hrs ago #123

R.I.P. Texas Towlie JustinBulletin 18 hrs ago #127

Sorry for your loss (losses) FHRRK1 18 hrs ago #125

Goodbye, Paul blogslug 18 hrs ago #126

I am so sorry for your loss. xmas74 18 hrs ago #129

.... and the Wheel turns. WheelWalker 18 hrs ago #130

I'm so sorry. Thank you for your post. IcyPeas 18 hrs ago #132

I am so sorry for your loss. I always looked for his posts because yellowdogintexas 18 hrs ago #133

I will miss him RussBLib 18 hrs ago #135

Oh my gosh I'm so sorry! Orrex 18 hrs ago #137

Thank you, Ilsa UpInArms 18 hrs ago #138

So sorry for your loss, Ilsa. democrank 17 hrs ago #139

Damn. He was one of good guys. I will miss him. SunSeeker 17 hrs ago #140

So very sorry for your losses Kaleva 17 hrs ago #141

I'm so sorry for your loss. stage left 17 hrs ago #142

So sorry for your loss montanacowboy 17 hrs ago #143

Oh, my...... Bayard 17 hrs ago #144

Thanks for everything you did. Big hug out to you. Eko 17 hrs ago #145

double shock Kali 17 hrs ago #147

Thank you! I was going to look for those! nt Ilsa 10 hrs ago #183

I'm so sorry for your loss . . . our loss. What a shock. yonder 17 hrs ago #148

Thank you, Ilsa, for letting us know of Paul's passing. virgdem 17 hrs ago #149

Shocking and sad. dalton99a 16 hrs ago #150

TT was a great person angrychair 16 hrs ago #151

This is awful news. So sorry to hear this, and my deepest sympathy to his sister. lostincalifornia 16 hrs ago #152

Ilsa, Texas Towelie was one of the cylinders that keeps DU's motor running. But I've always loved the heart & expression NBachers 16 hrs ago #153

One of the mighty has fallen. Tactical Peek 16 hrs ago #154

Oh no! I'm so shocked and saddened to read this. TT was Nixie 15 hrs ago #155

So sorry your beloved brother has passed. sdfernando 15 hrs ago #156

Oh no! EuterpeThelo 15 hrs ago #157

Thank you for writing NJCher 15 hrs ago #158

Oh, no. murielm99 15 hrs ago #159

Thank you for posting, lisa Laurelin 14 hrs ago #160

Oh no .... KT2000 14 hrs ago #161

Texas Towellie was one of the good ones Violet_Crumble 13 hrs ago #162

Thank you for your care for your siblings. delisen 13 hrs ago #163

Oh no, i am really sorry to read this uppityperson 13 hrs ago #164

Texas Towelie will be missed. Emile 12 hrs ago #165

He'll be missed otchmoson 12 hrs ago #166

🙏 I'm so sorry for your loss. TommieMommy 12 hrs ago #167

Sending you love Ilsa and a hope for comfort and peace of mind mahina 12 hrs ago #168

So sorry for your loss wolfie001 12 hrs ago #169

No... Just... No... W_HAMILTON 11 hrs ago #170

We were lucky to have him here. Festivito 11 hrs ago #171

My condolences. He will be missed Vogon_Glory 11 hrs ago #173

Please accept my condolences. n/t malthaussen 10 hrs ago #174

no questions, only onethatcares 10 hrs ago #175

🫂 mwmisses4289 10 hrs ago #176

Ugh, very upset to hear IbogaProject 10 hrs ago #177

I'm so sorry for your (our) loss. SergeStorms 10 hrs ago #178

Peace and condolences for your loss. Dulcinea 10 hrs ago #179

RIP - I'll miss him ☮ walkingman 10 hrs ago #180

I'm so sorry. Give yourself a break. You can't do everything. Walleye 10 hrs ago #181

I'm so very sorry for your loss dlk 10 hrs ago #182

So sorry for your loss Submariner 10 hrs ago #184

Such sad news PatSeg 10 hrs ago #185

I knew your brother personally, though briefly... Trueblue Texan 9 hrs ago #186

The earth shook a bit when I read your post radical noodle 9 hrs ago #187

Thank you for letting us know of Texas Towlie's passing, 70sEraVet 9 hrs ago #188

I am very sad at the news of TT's death... Spazito 9 hrs ago #189

I read all his foreign policy posts, he was so dedicated to informing people here. Passages 8 hrs ago #190

So sorry! Chi67 8 hrs ago #191

♥️K&R♥️ spanone 8 hrs ago #192

Make7 8 hrs ago #193

Wow! tavernier 8 hrs ago #194

We are your DU family also. You've suffered so much loss over the last few years, please take MLAA 8 hrs ago #195

So very sorry samplegirl 8 hrs ago #196

I was away from DU last night so just saw the news this morning EarlG 8 hrs ago #197

I am sorry to hear that jfz9580m 8 hrs ago #198

Now cracks a noble heart... OldSWODog 7 hrs ago #199

. Danascot 7 hrs ago #200

Oh Ilsa, I am so very sorry mcar 7 hrs ago #201

I got to know, and then loved TT, though his posts. ancianita 7 hrs ago #202

Sending hugs Ilsa. I'm so sorry for your loss. My livetohike 7 hrs ago #203

So very sorry to hear this. Just want to ty for being there for him!! bluestarone 6 hrs ago #206

I am so very sorry cate94 6 hrs ago #207

So sorry for your loss. Tommy Carcetti 6 hrs ago #208

I'm so sorry to hear the news of Towelie's death. I never realized he had so many health issues. You remind me generalbetrayus 6 hrs ago #209

Very sorry to hear this dickthegrouch 5 hrs ago #210

Sending my condolences mvd 5 hrs ago #211

I'm very sorry to learn this. cab67 4 hrs ago #212

My deepest condolences to Paul's family. brer cat 4 hrs ago #213

I am so sorry for your loss MorbidButterflyTat 4 hrs ago #214

As a fellow Texan Texasgal 4 hrs ago #215

May you find peace and healing Wicked Blue 4 hrs ago #216

So sorry BaronChocula 4 hrs ago #217

Just seeing this and I am so sorry for your loss BumRushDaShow 3 hrs ago #218

I'm so sorry. Alliepoo 3 hrs ago #219

Im so sorry. I enjoyed his posts BlueWaveNeverEnd 2 hrs ago #220

My sympathies to you and your family. Behind the Aegis 2 hrs ago #221

Condolences ProfessorGAC 2 hrs ago #222

So sorry for your loss Lulu KC 2 hrs ago #223

Texas Towlie Paul you will be missed Clouds Passing 36 min ago #225

My condolences on your loss Sanity Claws 36 min ago #226

So sorry for your loss, Ilsa....and sorry for our loss, as well. BComplex 32 min ago #227