Tell me : Is Texas a state, or a country?

[Natasha]

Hello future neighbors. I live with a Texan, my husband David. He is a true Texan if there ever was one. We have Texas Highways magazine coming to the house, he has Wolf chili sent up here by UPS, he loves ZZTop, and has a line of boxed cowboy hats in the closet. ( Right next to his row of cowboy boots to match)
So tell me, what is it about this state (country) that makes it stay in your heart?.... Even when you're not there.
To make this dive related, you can also tell me why diving in the mud is as good as peanut butter and jelly.
:sunny:

 

[joewr]

Natasha,

There is a time for humor and a time for getting serious...or as Ecclesiastes, Pete Seeger and the Byrds would say:

To everything-turn, turn, turn
There is a season--turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven

So, let me tell you about Texas/Texans...

While I was still working I used to go there regularly. Mostly to Houston and San Antonio with occasional trips to Austin and El Paso. And I never met a friendlier bunch of people in my life! It did not matter whether it was the hotel staff, the restaurant staff, the guys I did business with, the golf pros, the airport folks...they all were just, plain nice to me...always!

Now, I happen to think I live in a very beautiful state, but there is no sight that can match the blue bonnets blooming across an endless plain in Texas; once you have seen it, you will never forget it.

Oh, yes, a memory...one night we were strolling along the River Walk in San Antonio and could not quite believe our ears: the Hallelujah Chorus at 10:00 PM...coming out of a bar! It was Durty Nellie's, a raucus place most nights. But this evening there was a convention of Texas choral teachers in town and they had taken over the bar; we stuck our noses in and everyone scooted over so we could come in...and they would not hear of us leaving! Talk about a joy! Can you imagine a bar filled with people who teach singing...and everyone singing? What voices! What music! And all Texans! I swear I have never heard a better rendition of the HC. And the "amatuer" soloists took your breath away.

Then there is the Hill Country almost any time of year. Or breakfast in the spacious dining room of the Crockett Hotel...across the alley from the Alamo(my apologies to the Mills Bros.). Of course, there is the wild country of West Texas...real cowboy country!

Did I mention the cottonwood trees and the old Spanish missions? You just have to see them together. The red tile roofs, the white plaster over adobe walls, the the translucent green of the cottonwood leaves as the light of the brilliant Texas sun filters through them....

And, finally, there is the TexMex cuisine...heartburn on a plate, but who can resist it? I had a pal, sadly deceased, whose family came from South of the Border 5 generations ago: whenever he chose to enter a chili making contest, the others just folded their tents. One bite of Senor Trevino's Chili de Tejas and you were hooked!

Joewr...well, there goes my reputation...saying something good about Texas...I will never live it down.

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Thanks for the fine words man...

Natasha,

Texas is the only state allowed to fly its flag at the same level as the US flag.

Texas is the only state with articles of succession still in its constitution.

Texas' GNP would exceeed that of many countries the same size.

Its just in the blood. I can't explain it. It only lacks two major types of eco systems. Tropical rain forest and arctic tundra.

Joe said it very well. I would rather look at the wild flowers in the spring than the turning foilage in the fall. I've seen restaurants list Shiner Bock as an import.

We have so many mud holes. Including the one off the coast. Ok so the vis stinks... its still better than staying dry.


Tom

 

[DivingGal]

Originally posted by Natasha
So tell me, what is it about this state (country) that makes it stay in your heart?.... Even when you're not there.
To make this dive related, you can also tell me why diving in the mud is as good as peanut butter and jelly.
:sunny:

good questions Natasha... being passionate about one's home is always a good thing, but I've wondered about this Texan thing too.

Now if only they'll explain about the diving in mud -er trough thing....

 

[Dee]

But mostly it's a state of mind that we're raised with. Although Texas was it's own country for a very short period in the worlds time line, we retain the mind set!

From a born and bred Texan....

 

[Iguana Don]

Go there and experience it for yourself, mere words cannot explain the feelings that one has for their state. Like Dee said, "It's a state of mind" as well as other things that just can't be put into words.

ID.......Texan by birth and by the Grace of God!

 

[Zagnut]

I see you mentioned Austin. That town has a feel all it's own. I've never been there and not had a great time. This weekend was no exception. Imagine Iguana Don on Sixth Street. Holy Cow! With that lime green leopard skin wetsuit, he fit right in. The wife and I strayed off course and ended up in Maggie Mae's drinking half and halfs and watching the freaks go by. Man, I love that bar!...I love ol' Tejas! (pronounced Tayhas..for you yanks up there). Natasha, come on down and see what I mean. Next time you'll be with us. When is it you are moving down here?

 

[artsprite]

Joewr, you forgot the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas. They're not like any other part of Texas, and somewhat like the deep south. The trees are so tall you can hardly see the sky, and fall brings its own wonderful smell to the air from the many hardwood forests interspersed amongst the pines. East Texas is full of historic homes turned into bed and breakfasts. Jefferson has it's history of riverboat travel before the great raft clogged up the Red River and created Caddo Lake. It's the largest totally natural lake in the area and made up of river systems and bayous. It has huge Cypress trees with Spanish moss, bayous, alligators, nutria, beaver, The Great Blue Heron and other water birds, Pilated Woodpeckers, eagles, and many other interesting creatures. You'll find good old Southern Hospitality here, too. Ask Scubatexastony, too. He'll agree with me. If you haven't seen this part of the state, you're missing something special. And, by the way, I'm proud to be a native Texan from Marshall, Texas.

and....Iguana Don...

it's "American by birth, and Texan by the Grace of God"

 

[artsprite]

Oh... I forgot... DivingGal:

Unless you're on the coast of Texas, the brown water and mud's all we got girl! You learn to enjoy it!

 

[artsprite]

I could go on and on, but when Caddo was open to riverboats, and the way to get to the port city of Jefferson, a riverboat called the Mittie Stephens burned and sunk off Swanson's Landing on Caddo Lake near Marshall, and there were pearl divers that harvested the mussels in the lake for a living.