Almost 32 years ago, I was born in a small town located approximately 50 miles east of Fort Worth. I do not remember much about this town, except our two story white house and my grandparent’s one story white house located just a couple of blocks away.

I remember climbing the stairs to my parents bedroom, where we marveled at a new channel called HBO. I remember sitting on my sister’s bed late on Saturday nights watching the Not Ready for Prime Time Players with her. I remember swinging in the backyard and coming home on Christmas Eve to our waiting tree and dozens of presents.

I remember staying with my grandparents during the day while my parents both went to work. I remember walking across the street to the store with my grandfather, who bought me candy from a sizable variety of plastic bins. I remember trailing along with him to the hardware store, where everyone knew his name. I remember marking his phone number in one of my books, so that I could call him when I got home. I also remember calling him from my dad’s office and asking him to come back and get me so I could sleep over at their house. Then, when he came to get me, I remember asking him to please take me back home.

We moved from Mineral Wells when I was four. Up until her death in 1999, my grandmother loved to tell how I would announce that we were “moving to Hoo-ston!” And we did.

Within two years of our move, my grandfather passed away.

Though I did not live there long, Mineral Wells has always had a special place in my heart. Perhaps it is my sentimental nature or justified historic interest, but something about it fills me with elation any time I get near. It is, to be sure, quite a unique town.

For instance, in the middle of this tiny town is a mammoth hotel. The Baker hotel, now abandoned and purportedly haunted, was a popular resort in its heyday. Everyone from popular movie stars to presidents flocked there.

Now it seems questionable. Anyone who drives through Mineral Wells would ask…in a town such as this, what would ever justify a hotel that size?

The answer is simple.

Crazy water, of course.

According to Mineral Wells history, the town was built on the popularity of its mineral water. When the founder realized what he believed to be healing properties, people began to flock from miles around. And so, the town was born. The water eventually became so popular that two hotels were built to accommodate those who wished to taste its special properties.

A sign even hung over one of the highways that read: Welcome to Mineral Wells, Home of the Crazy. The water, and one of the hotels, were both named “Crazy.” In the case of the sign, the hotel was being advertised. But the hotel was named for the water.

According to legend, it is said that an older, demented (i.e. crazy) woman drank the water twice daily and was fully cured as a result. Of course, the water could have cured a woman who was believed to be crazy.

Because, you see, in the town where I was born, the waters drawn from the wells are extremely high in lithium content.

Yes, my friends. There is a God. And He has a delicious sense of humor.