What Texas Has Taught Me

I spent over six hours in my car yesterday driving from Dallas to a suburb of Austin.* I had a great time thinking about life, singing out loud to songs on my Ipod** (without my husband complaining they were too "girly") and stopping at quirky places along the way. I love car trips - I always have. But I like car trips that allow you to pull over if you see something neat - in other words, I don't like car trips that exist ONLY to get from one place to another. I like the car trips where you enjoy the actual journey.

I couldn't do too much "enjoying" on my way down - hell, I was in a black business suit with heels and pearls and it was over 100 degrees, but I thought a lot. You see, when my husband and I were first discussing moving, we toyed with a few locations that were outside the state of Texas. I was really reluctant to leave the state....it didn't really make sense to me because it's not as if I was born and raised here....but there is something about Texas, heck - about Texans - that I find so endearing (including but not limited to the complete absence of a state income tax).

Anyway, here is the beginning of a list that I plan to add to on a regular basis:

THINGS I LOVE ABOUT TEXAS



1. The stars at night, are big and bright....(seriously, I love that song).

2. You can see a cowboy any where, at any time, with no warning. Yesterday, I saw a cowboy (in the largest pick-up truck I have ever seen) pull to the side of the highway to help a lady change a flat tire. But I've also seen them walking in downtown Dallas. They are everywhere.

3. Flying J - I made the mistake of stopping at a Flying J station yesterday to get gas and a Red Bull. I had forgotten that this place is a religious shrine to some - there was a line, A LINE, for gas - that's right, people were lining up to pay $4 for a gallon of gas at Flying J, even though there was an empty gas station across the street. If you've never been to one, suffice it to say that they exist to make travelers' lives (especially truckers') easier. There is a "truckers' lounge), a computer room, showers, restaurant and every imaginable snack under the sun.

4. If you stop at a Flying J in the middle of summer in a black suit and pearls to spend $3.19 on a canned beverage, you will get strange looks (I really wanted a coffee, but I was afraid I would spill it on my blouse pre-interview, so I got a Red Bull. Apparently, this Red Bull was made from the teats of a pure gold bull because it cost $3.19). I was sort of embarrassed for myself.

5. This has been used before - but a number of comedians - but it's true. You can say anything you want about anyone, but if say "bless his heart" after the insult, the slate is wiped clean. For example, "Her ass is as big as a barn silo, bless her heart."

6. The bluebonnets. Nuff said.

7. The state court system. In Texas courts, there are no rules. This can work to your detriment or your benefit (depending on if the judge agrees with you). I can remember my first appearance before a state court judge - I was dressed to the nines and prepared for hours. I had outlines and bullet lists, and outlines organizing my bullet lists. And, most importantly, I had the law on my side. Our case was called and the judge motioned for us to come to the bench (instead of standing at counsel's table which is a more formal approach). He asked the opposing attorney what his thoughts on the issue were - then he asked me. Thankfully, I quickly realized that I had to boil my argument down to one point. Needless to say, I lost - it's hard to pick one point when you have 5,461 to make. I learned my lesson though. They work things out and argue less. And it doesn't necessarily matter who is right.

8. Texas has the best Mexican food. Well, actually - it's more likely that Mexico has the best Mexican food - but Texas as the best Tex-Mex food. I remember my husband have severe withdrawal the week we were in NJ for my dad's funeral. There is no Mexican food, good or bad, in NJ.

9. Chivalry is not dead. I mean, I'm all for women being equal - receiving equal pay for equal work, not being a SAHM if you don't want to....but there is something nice about having a door held open for you. Or seeing a group of men standing outside an elevator until the first woman enters it.

10. Did you know that Texas has a State Stone? Yep. Petrified Palmwood. We also have a State Grass (Sideoats grama ), a State Fruit (Texas red grapefruit), a State Reptile (Texas horned lizard), a variety of state mammals (the Mexican free-tailed bat is the State Flying Mammal, the armadillo is the State Small Mammal and the longhorn is the State Large Mammal). We also have a State Folk Dance (square dance), a State Fiber & Fabric (cotton) and a State Tartan (the Bluebonnet Tartan):

I mean, who puts this much thought into being a state? There is enormous state pride down here. (Although I'm not entirely sure WHY we would have an official state air force?)

Oh, and you'll be happy to know that the official State Shrub is NOT, contrary to popular belief, George W. Bush. It's actually a pretty bush called the crape myrtle (of which I am deathly allergic. The bush, not the man.).

Okay - last one - the official State Sport is the Rodeo. Seriously, YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS SHIT UP!

I'm glad we're not moving out of Texas - apparently I love tradition and Texas has a lot of tradition. I thought about this as I drove around this small Texas town yesterday. The center of town is the state courthouse, and although the surrounding sadlle shops and barber shops have been replaced by bistros and wine bars, it hasn't been modernized too much.

I thought to myself, I could see myself living and working here. And that's a lot coming from a girl born in New York City. I guess I've come full circle and I need a place that I can call home.

*I had an interview with a small firm. It's a great firm - the founding partner used to be with a big firm and he truly rectified the things he hated about that lifestyle in starting up his business. The firm is in an old restored historic house and the offices are AMAZING. Honestly, I would work there in a minute, but it will be a huge pay-cut. We'll have to see just how huge and if we could even afford to live on it - that is, if they are interested in hiring me.

** Speaking of which, did anyone know that there is a version of "Major Tom" that is not sung in English? I didn't. Apparently I have it on my Ipod. Took me a while to figure out that I was not, in fact, having some sort of seizure and/or hearing voices in another language.