Okay, there’s a song that I keep thinking about this week. It’s by Lyle Lovett, and it goes something like this:
You say you’re not from Texas
Man as if I couldn’t tell
You think you pull your boots on right
And wear your hat so wellSo pardon me my laughter
‘Cause I sure do understand
Even Moses got excited
When he saw the promised landThat’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
That’s right you’re not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway
I’m going there this weekend. So excited!!! I’ll have to reach deep down inside to remember exactly how to pull my boots on right. It’s been almost four years since I last set foot on the sacred soil of Texas (unless airports count). It’s about time!
Parts of Texas might not have the prettiest scenery on earth or the best weather, but the state still manages to make people absolutely love it. It’s like the fat kid with a great personality, except this kid has lots of spunk and a great gun collection in addition to some good jokes and delicious food… and how about that rodeo!? Not many places are as beloved as Texas. How many states do you know where just about everyone owns a piece of clothing or jewelry that includes the state outline? If you’re a teacher, you own at least twenty of those items. I’m telling you, it’s a special place. Also, the people I’m going to see aren’t half bad.
It’s going to be one part college reunion courtesy of the lady on the right, one part high school reunion courtesy of the lady on the left, and one part airline reunion. It’s been a while since I’ve flown anywhere. Like I said, I’m excited. If history is any indication, there will be plenty of good stories to tell after the weekend. I’ll try to think of something other than Texas to write about in the meantime, but you might have to settle for hearing about the rodeo.
Small, but valuable. 
I love the likable fat kid analogy. The thing about Texas is, at least people have opinions about it. I’m not even sure what I could say about VA. Umm…
OK after visiting a webiste on “Virginia Facts and Trivia” (to say something clever here) I found out that the VA state motto is “Sic Semper Tyrannis”, translating to “Thus always to tyrants.” Eehr? Sounds kind of synical or self defeating. How is that a motto??
Texas’ on the other hand is just “Friendship.” I think it’s a good representation of us. We’re definitely friendly, but we’re still working on making complete pharses and sentences.
Nice, Julie. Hopefully we’ll get some full sentences out when we see each other tonight… overcoming cultural limitations one day at a time. When you visit Virginia, we’ll have to talk in nothing but Latin phrases. Right.