Other than a short three year period where I lived in Boca Raton, Florida (to which I give credit for my initial Spanish skills, bleach blonde hair, and desire to travel) I have lived in Texas my entire life. Good ole Texas. Tejas. The Lone Star State.
Home of dance halls, several former presidents (looking good there GB Sr.), performers (ummmm Beyoncé end of story), Wranglers, it's own genre of country music, Whataburger, and Blue Bell ice cream.
Where football is king, unless your talking about George Strait, y'all is an official pronoun, summers are hot, the women are hotter, tea is sweet and those southern men are sweeter. We love our guns almost as much as we love our country, and we always support our troops. We are damn proud to be Americans, but deep down we know that God blessed Texas with his own hands.
And we can't help it. Growing up in a state so amazing gives us the right to brag. And even though I will sit here and say Texas forever, I do believe it is important to leave at some point. Even if all it does is confirm your belief that you never want to live anywhere else, leaving the place where the stars at night are big and bright is a vital step to appreciating the land you call home.
When you do leave, there are a few things you learn about you and your two-stepping compadres back in Texas, and I have compiled this list to teach you a little something about how that goes.
You will get asked about Texas. A lot.
"What's it like living somewhere with state pride? Did y'all really think about seceding?" It's fan-freaking-tastic, and no. Unless you ask any adolescent man between the ages of 16-20 in which case they might actually want to secede. "Why is Rick Perry running for President?" I don't know buddy but we don't all claim him. "Is illegal immigration like a really big deal there? Do people wear cowboy hats?" Yes and yes. "Wait, like every day?" You should really try it sometime...
Texas is just as fascinating to other people as it is to us. They want to know all of the juicy details about living in a place that thinks so highly of itself. And you are happy to tell them.
You don't realize how much you talk about Texas.
You will find yourself bringing it up a lot. Both intentionally and unintentionally! Sometimes it is just to remind those around you that you are a true Texan, and sometimes it because you are just used to talking about how great your state is. I'm not sure if this applies elsewhere, but back home my friends and I talked about our great state pretty regularly, which is a conversation topic I'm just not willing to let go.
You will miss so many things about your home state.
Mexican food was to be expected, right? We grew up learning the mantra that Texas has this segment of the restaurant industry locked down. But there are other things you will realize you had been taking for granted. Like Schlitterbahn, seeing the state flag everywhere, boys in starched jeans and cowboy hats, Cane's, honky tonks, HEB and Whataburger. Oh sweet sweet Whataburger. I salute you HBCB....and don't forget to put bacon on your patty melts.
You'll miss the variety. No matter where you are (except maybe the panhandle but no one really counts it anyway), there is a beautiful state park ready for fishing or hiking within a 30 minute drive. Big cities, small towns, open plains, rolling hills, and pinewood forests--Texas has it all. So head on out to Pedernales or Enchanted Rock and drink you a cold Shiner.
You know more about your state than most other people know about theirs.
For this point to be made I want you to read a conversation had between myself, and a fellow grad student from Connecticut.
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong, That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
-L
You will find yourself bringing it up a lot. Both intentionally and unintentionally! Sometimes it is just to remind those around you that you are a true Texan, and sometimes it because you are just used to talking about how great your state is. I'm not sure if this applies elsewhere, but back home my friends and I talked about our great state pretty regularly, which is a conversation topic I'm just not willing to let go.
You will miss so many things about your home state.
Mexican food was to be expected, right? We grew up learning the mantra that Texas has this segment of the restaurant industry locked down. But there are other things you will realize you had been taking for granted. Like Schlitterbahn, seeing the state flag everywhere, boys in starched jeans and cowboy hats, Cane's, honky tonks, HEB and Whataburger. Oh sweet sweet Whataburger. I salute you HBCB....and don't forget to put bacon on your patty melts.
You'll miss the variety. No matter where you are (except maybe the panhandle but no one really counts it anyway), there is a beautiful state park ready for fishing or hiking within a 30 minute drive. Big cities, small towns, open plains, rolling hills, and pinewood forests--Texas has it all. So head on out to Pedernales or Enchanted Rock and drink you a cold Shiner.
You know more about your state than most other people know about theirs.
For this point to be made I want you to read a conversation had between myself, and a fellow grad student from Connecticut.
Yankee- Oh gosh...it's one of those annoying mockingbirds. Such a nuisance.
Proud Texan aka Me- *most likely much more abrasively than intended* Hey! Don't be hateful. The mockingbird is the state bird of Texas!
Yankee- Really? Wait why do you know your state bird?
Me- The same reason I know that our state tree is the pecan tree, the state flower is the bluebonnet
(but don't forget the yellow rose of Texas), and the state reptile is the horny toad.
Yankee- Oh Gosh.
You're damn right I know my state bird.
You will suddenly be compelled to say "Howdy!" as your primary greeting.
I'm not sure why...it just happens.
You are now officially "The Girl from Texas"
Or the guy--whatever! Inevitably a moment will occur when you forget you aren't in Texas, so you don't need to acknowledge that Texas is where you hail from. Or if you're like me...you feel a burning need to inform people you are from Texas, even if they didn't ask. But your peers and friends are always there to remind you that you are different from all of these regular folks ;) It becomes your identifier, and you wear that badge with honor.
All in all, I wouldn't give up my label as a Texan for anything! It brings your pride and some great conversation starters. Watching someone's face light up when you tell them where you are from, and then proceed to dive into a story or memory having to do with Texas is a pretty great feeling.
