November 3, 2025: Dallas Trip (Day 3)

A day of stark contrasts.

• Our morning began with a five-minute walk from our hotel to Dealey Plaza, the site of JFK’s assassination. Looking up at the sixth-floor window where Lee Harvey Oswald fired his rifle, then down at the street markers where the President fell, we felt the weight of the moment. The world’s eyes gazed on that spot 62 years ago this month.

• Around the block, we visited a Western store. The smell of leather filled the space as we browsed the collection of boots and denim wear, plus all types of Dallas collectibles. Lots of Lone Star pride between these walls.

• Literally across the road stood a great BBQ restaurant. Yummy. All the Texas staples we’d been craving.

• After lunch, back to our room for chill time.

• About 4:45, we headed to AT&T Stadium for Monday Night Football. The pregame festivities resembled a state fair, with music and vendors. There was also a dance team and a full Mariachi band fueling the celebration.

• We settled into Section 129 (lower section around the 15-yard line). Fantastic view and close enough to the field to throw a football to the players.

• The game itself provided pure entertainment, with 80,000 screaming fans involved in a multimedia event with over 3,500 screens. Whenever the energy sagged even slightly, the jumbotron cut to our mariachi friends perched high in the stadium, and their tunes brought the entire arena back to life.

• Ultimately, the Cowboys lost. But the time spent with Luke, at one of our bucket list sports locations, was totally worth it.

The takeaway… the value of an experience isn’t always determined by the final score.