I’m proud that I was born in Texas…
And as such, I’m happy to share my thoughts.
There’s something about the state of mind
I believe every Texan has engrained in their soul.
“There’s a vastness here and I believe that the people who are born here breathe that vastness into their soul. They dream big dreams and think big thoughts, because there is nothing to hem them in.”
~Conrad Hilton, his first hotel was in Cisco, TX… #Texas
These are not big words for a big state,
They are the state of mind.
What we learned in forming years,
Showed we were different, somehow unique.
From one research on the thought of Texas:
“Texas also has many local sayings,
Including “Everything is bigger in Texas.”
The state motto is “Friendship,”
which may have been chosen because the name of Texas
is the Spanish pronunciation of the local Indian tribe’s word
teyshas or thecas, which means friends or allies.”
“For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance,
and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings,
Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America.
Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession,
the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.”
~John Steinbeck
Though unique, Texas has many exceptional living qualities: Gulf Coast, Piney Woods, High Desert, Rivers, Plains, Panhandle, Hill Country, Big Bend, and Great Plains. In my rush to define, I’m sure I’ve misstated some qualities, but they also have some mountains. (Guadalupe, Davis, Glass, Chalk, and Chisos mountain ranges.)
My problem is mine. I’ve grown so used to tall mountains, lots of snow, and cold weather that I’ve learned that summer is hot once it gets to 70 degrees. When you think of it as being cold once it reaches 0 degrees unless the wind is blowing, then it’s freezing at 50 degrees, how can you exist when the temperatures and humidity are over 100? (Degrees and Percentage) In Texas, you have all the wildlife, insects, snakes, alligators, and Crocs you could want—but no caribou, Dall sheep, mountain goats, grizzlies, or moose (all of which are good eating!).
Houston (metroplex) is a bayou city with many drainage points to the Gulf and home to yours truly. NASA, Astrodome, Astroworld (nee’ Astros), and seven counties (Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller) contain nearly 8 million people.
Dallas/Ft Worth, though not a favorite (I always get turned around…), is home to many great Texas Namesakes, including the Cowboys, Six Flags, Stock Yards, and a ton of history still waiting to be discovered. Not to be outdone, the metro area contains 13 counties (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, and Wise) for nearly 7 million souls.
San Antonio is the home of the Alamo. Austin is the State Capitol. Waco has gained (Gaines) popularity. El Paso (the pass) is beautifully situated as the gateway city to I-10 from the west to Orange/Beaumont from the east. Interstate 10 is roughly 900 miles long, and it takes 13 hours to drive across Texas—that’s without stopping…
So many songs are written about Texas places and people. From the Yellow Rose to Waltzing across the state, we sing about Amarillo by morning, up from San Antone… (George Strait), Happiness is Lubbock in a rearview mirror (Mac Davis). El Paso City (Marty Robbins). Houston, in one more day, I’ll be closer to you. (Gatlin Brothers) Galveston, oh Galveston (Glen Cambell). Luckenbach, Willie, Waylon, and the boys…
Texas has a state song (written in 1924 and adopted in 1929). Most can’t sing it, and few say they know it, but I’ve sung it a time or two throughout my adult years. Here’s a site listing other songs about the grand ol’ state.
Texas’ first president as a nation was Sam Houston. I’ve heard it said that Texas was the only “nation” that joined the country of the United States, so maybe that’s why there is such pride about a homeland.
Throughout my social construct, I follow people who share the history of Texas. If I’ve failed to list someone, please accept my apologies. I’ve hurried through this thought and know I’m not being very inclusive this morning.
https://texashighways.com/
https://www.tracesoftexas.com
https://www.derrickjeter.com
https://www.texasmonthly.com
https://texasourtexas.texaspbs.org/
Although TCR is now part of Texas Monthly, I’ve followed their reporting for years:
https://tcr.texasmonthly.com/ (They just celebrated 50 years of reporting!)
I could go on… But this thought pops into my mind:
Why is Texas so differently viewed?
Texas is no different than any other nation on the face of the earth. Everywhere has a history—some good, some bad, and some questionable, and even more may be worth bragging about. It’s a fact that no one has always done everything right. Nothing from the past can be rewritten and undone.
Before Alaska, Texas was the largest state. Today? Cut Alaska in half, and Texas will become the third-largest state. Trust me. After 16 years in Alaska, I know the jokes and swagger of the far north, but there’s still something special about Texas and being a Texan.
Maybe there’s bragging rights and pride from history, but we’re past that today. Today? We make history. In my view, you must look at where Texas is going as much as where it came from. Their independent spirit is something I wear proudly even though I’m not residing in Texas.
Personal Thoughts
Texas, where I was born, saved and met the love of my life.
Texas, my family, friends, and history are the anchors of my future.
Texas, our Texas! All hail the mighty State!
Texas, our Texas! So wonderful, so great!
I was born in the 1950s, raised in the 1960s, and married in the 1970s… Combine those three-decade periods into a thought, and you’d be hard-pressed to think about life differently than tumultuous, victorious, and exciting—a good time to be alive.
Church was influential, and the importance of God in my life shaped me into the person I am today.
I asked myself this question: Would I be the same person without God? Or would I be the same person without Texas? The answer is an obvious “no.” We are a mix of our roots, focus, desires, and locale. Add in the personal traits of intelligence, creativity, introspection, and consideration, then we mold ourselves into a bigger-than-life image of where we were raised.
As I said to a boss decades ago: “I want to be the best me that me knows how.” I’m always learning, every striving, and never satisfied to not be growing. IIITBIIUTM: If it is to be, it is up to me.
Other Quotes, to list a few.
“Texas is a blend of valor and swagger” ~Carl Sandburg
“You can all go to hell, and I will go to Texas” ~Davy Crockett
“If a man’s from Texas, he’ll tell you. If he’s not, why embarrass him by asking?” ~John Gunther
“Texans ignored ‘better,’ long ago forgot the useless word ‘good.’ Everything in Texas is ‘best.’ ~Edward Smith
“Only Texas could turn defeat into a legend–and a song, a tourist attraction, and a major motion picture.” ~Rosemary Kent
“Texas has yet to learn submission to any oppression, come from what source it may.” ~Sam Houston
Thank you for reading.
Please share with others.
It helps me get my book written!