Man, I Love Texas!

Published on September 10, 2005 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

After nearly a year in Texas, I have decided that the only people who don't like Texas...are people who ain't got here yet!

Now I'm not talking about some of the more annoying traits. But, frankly, racism and ignorance have been around in EVERY city where I've ever lived...and, I'm inclined, exist in every corner of the globe. I'm talking about the general attitude that make Texas great.

First off, I have a million stars, no waiting. On a clear night, all I have to do to see the Milky Way is step out in my front yard with the porch lights off. The cool evening wind makes just such a jaunt an enjoyable, relaxing experience.

Second, these people know what a good steak is. I don't have to worry about showing up at somebody's house and getting "Tofurkey", or about some "pleather"-clad moron in Birkenstocks (which are, oddly enough, made of LEATHER) lamenting my cruelty in gratuitously covering my grill with delicately carved sections of animal flesh.

But what I really, REALLY love about Texas...is that these people are just as stubborn as I am. Though we disagree frequently, these are people that know what they believe and unapologetically defend it. Right or wrong, they are who they are, and you can't change that.

I'm quickly changing my status from "Rambler" to "transplanted Texan".

Comments (Page 1)

Spc Nobody Special

on Sep 10, 2005

Sweeeet. Whereabouts is the house you're buying?

Gideon MacLeish

on Sep 10, 2005

We're in the panhandle. You?

Spc Nobody Special

on Sep 10, 2005

Copperas Cove, just west of Killeen. I've also lived in (in Texas) Garland, Texarkana, and San Angelo.

AvantiTexan

on Sep 10, 2005

Glad you're enjoying your new Texas home! Dad and I have spent countless hours out on the front porch, looking up at the stars or watching the last dying breaths of a spring thunderstorm as it passes on in the distance. Many people don't care for the Texas Panhandle, but I don't think they've seen a sunset from skyline drive or seen the freshly dusted rolling plains on the road to Pampa after an early morning snow. Some beautiful stuff...and don't even get me started on the steaks... : ) Grazie e Pace!

JP

lostintexas

on Sep 10, 2005

Welcome to the best State in the world! We are over joyed that you are loving where you are.

Rick says welcome to the Planet Texas!

Locamama

on Sep 10, 2005

I'm in Weatherford, just west of Fort Worth. I've been here for almost three years. I hated it when I first got here except for the bluebonnets. I just had a hard time settling in somewhere new. Once I made some friends it made a huge difference. My dad and my hubby are both native Texans. So now I'm one of the - I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could. I really want to go up to Palo Duro Canyon but haven't made it yet. And I'm also wanting a weekend in San Antonio.

One bad thing about Texas - summer electric bills are killer. And there are too many critters that bite - such as fire ants, black widows, scorpions,snakes. But you have to take the good with the bad.

terpfan1980

on Sep 10, 2005

Born in Tejas, raised in the Chesapeake bay area (where my parents are from). Went "home" to the panhandle for one year of college before unfortunately washin' out of my first choice of college study programs. It was a great place to be, a fine place to go to school, but I was always more interested in working for a living and having enough money to get the supplies, books, and other materials I needed while in school from my own money, rather than relying on my parents or others to get them for me.

Community college back closer to the D.C. area, a career working in the printing business as an electronic compositor/page make-up/editor while doing that, and then later a career in the I.T. support area for the Federal government (along with marriage) kept me from getting back to Texas.

I did go to the Dallas area back in '99 doing some Y2K related work for customer of my employer there. Actually drug my family along with me. Spent about 6 weeks there in the summer months. It was a nice area, but most of the country was in a drought at the time (Chesapeake bay area included). As I had remembered, Texas was hot, but in the Dallas area it was a nice "dry heat". On the other hand, visited Houston during that trip (and visited Galveston, where I learned that some cops shouldn't ever hold that job!!!) and came away from there feeling as if I had been in Mississippi or Louisiana gulf area. Hot, humid, and just plain miserable. Intolerably hot actually.

But, with the exception of the dumb-bass rookie deputy in the Galveston area, I'd say that all of the people I met and dealt with in all of my time in Texas were great. For the most part, they treated me great, welcomed myself and my family and made us feel at home while there.

As Gideon notes, there are people of all types everywhere. Some who are not that most friendly, and some that still hold age old prejudices from a different time. Many such people live in Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, the Carolinas and a host of other places (as well as such people that live in New York, New Jersey, etc.) But I think the good people in Texas far outweigh the bad. Most people in Texas (and a lot of the south) have big hearts, and they are normally quick to help out their neighbors and welcome strangers as friends.

Angloesque

on Sep 10, 2005

Sorry to hear it. Hope you recover soon.

-A.

InBloom

on Sep 10, 2005

~First off, I have a million stars...waiting. On a clear night, all I have to do to see the Milky Way is step out in my front yard with the porch lights off.~

As they say in the song, "The stars at night are big and bright(clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the Heart of Texassss..."

I'm a West Texan here...Glad you like our lone star state...

Dr Guy

on Sep 12, 2005

Texas has its traits, and I will not speak ill of the state. All states have bad parts, and good parts. But as someone who has been there, I prefer Virginia. The weather is a tad better, the ocean bouncier (better waves), and the people as nice. Plus I dont have to worry about cowboy boots (dont wear shoes if I can get away with it) or stetsons. But I do miss a good steak!

ariadneK

on Sep 12, 2005

I think someone slipped LSD in your coffee...or else you haven't lived in many other places...to "inspire" yourself to write this post.

ariadneK

on Sep 12, 2005

I think someone slipped LSD in your coffee...or else you haven't lived in many other places...to "inspire" yourself to write this post.

ariadneK

on Sep 12, 2005

Dude, you haven't lived in many other places in the U.S., have you? This is a scary post.

InBloom

on Sep 12, 2005

~Dude, you haven't lived in many other places in the U.S., have you? This is a scary post.~

You know, he/she isn't the only one to speak ill of this state...just to make it clear, not all us Texans are braggin'loud mouths with ten gallon hats.

new-age nomad

on Sep 12, 2005

Texas is the shiznit...

Trinitie

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