Thoughts on Texas

It's difficult to believe that I haven't been back to Southwest Texas in 37 years. I've been to New Mexico numerous times, and I've visited San Antonio and Houston, but how strange to not return to Lubbock. I'm reminded of the feelings John has when we visit Ireland--he's told me repeatedly that he feels a sense of peace there that he doesn't feel anywhere else, and he attributes that feeling to the Spirit of Elijah. It's the land of his forefathers. I believe I feel the same way about Lubbock. There was a comfort there that I haven't felt in a very long time. Everywhere else I've lived, I've felt like I need to curb myself. I need to watch what I say, or I stress about what to wear, or I frequently just feel like a stranger. But being back in Lubbock, I felt a sense of belonging. A sense that these are my people. One of the memorable moments of the entire trip came when Johannah said to me, "Mommy, being here, I can see why you are the way you are."

Thank you.

Texans are outspoken and unapologetic. For years I figured people around the world understood that, and I could be free with my thoughts and speech. Nope. But Texans are okay with that. In fact, on our last morning in Texas, we went to a pancake house, and the man seating us (who I am pretty sure was the owner) asked if we had any "hairy legged men" with us. I wanted to say to him, "If you know any single ones, send them Hannah's way," but I figured she would be embarrassed. But my children have too many examples of me saying what I think, embarrassment be damned.

Texans are polite. I am polite to a fault. I mean, I hold freaking doors open for men. Near the end of our trip, I responded to someone, and I didn't say "thank you". I almost went back in the restaurant to apologize afterwards because I felt so guilty about it. But the number of "ma'am"s we heard on our trip could fill some of those canyons in the parks.

Texans cook delicious food. Now, if you aren't from Texas, you might not find the food so delicious. I'm not sure I saw a side salad on any menu at any restaurant. But meat and potatoes and comfort food. Those are what I cook and what I love to eat. And we ate a LOT of it.

Texans are obvious. They like football and cowboy boots and making money from oil, and you see it everywhere. There's no shady dealings--just put it on a field or on your feet, and we all know who and what you are.

It felt so good to be back. It was a connection that I didn't know I'd lost.

Comments

Like Dominos....

It all began with glare. Simple, obnoxious, I-can't-stand-it-anymore glare. Our 60" rear projection TV in the family room was basically unviewable except after 10 o'clock at night. The glare from the windows was making it impossible to see anything during my 10 minute lunch break each day, and something had to change. Too, the TV didn't fit in the entertainment center from Germany. John, wanting bigger and better, hadn't considered that the space is only 40" wide. For the past five years, I have been nagged by 6" of overhang on both sides of the TV stand. I went to Lowe's to price blinds. $1,043 for five blinds, and that was at 20% off. I figured a new TV would be cheaper than that. I was right, even with the state-of-the-art receiver and new HDMI cables that sly salesman told us we needed to have. But where to put the old TV? It just needed a quiet, dark place to retire. Glo's bedroom. Her TV was a relic from the paleoneoneand...

The Quest for Birkenstocks

One of the main reasons I go to Germany every couple of years is to restock my supply of Birkenstocks. I started buying them when I lived there, and I basically can't live without them now. It just about kills me when a pair runs its course and needs to be thrown away. I think in my lifetime, I've thrown away only three pairs. One that never was quite right (the straps were plastic and would cut into my skin after a long day), one pair that I wore gardening one too many times (the brown dirt stains wouldn't come out of the white leather), and the pair that I was wearing when I broke my ankle (they were an unfortunate casualty of broken ankle PTSD because those purple and blue paisleys go down as one of my favorite pairs of all time). I only threw out the garden ones a couple of days before I left for Germany, because I knew I would be getting a new pair. The only store where I have ever bought my Birkenstocks is Hoffmann's in Speicher. (Well okay, t...

Thinking Beyond Ourselves

In our church, most adults hold a “calling”. What this really means is they have a job, or a specific way to serve within the local congregation. We believe that this calling is inspired from God—it’s a specific way that he wants us to serve, so that we can either learn and grow ourselves, or so that we can help someone else. I have had more callings in the church than I can count, and with few exceptions, I have loved every one of them. I have come to love people (adults, teens and kids) who I might never have met. I have learned much--from how to organize a Christmas music program, to how to make a Sunday School lesson meaningful to apathetic teenagers. I have served as president of the children’s organization, and I have been the leader of 30 young, single adults. With every calling comes a lot of work. Of course, the amount of work one puts into a calling is up to an individual. I choose to put everything into a calling. I give up ho...

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Search This Blog