Don't Mess With Texas

I grew up in Missouri. I think for all intents and purposes, Missouri is a fairly benign state. Oh, I know politically, and sometimes religiously one could find place to dispute that---but just work with me.

I didn't grow up being instilled with Missouri pride. In fact, I'm not sure there is such a thing. At least not among those of us born after 1935. Or who still have most of our teeth. I could be wrong though. Oh yeah, and I could be totally offending people too. **

Growing up, my mom worked tirelessly to keep us from talking like some of the natives in our area. "Ain't, cain't, I seen" etc. I think she did a good job.

So, when I went off to college and was exposed to people from different states, and even different countries, I was quite surprised to see the pride people had in their homeland. I heard songs like, "I'd rather be from Idaho than any other place I know, Idee-idee-idee-idee-Idaho!"

Yeah, I doubt Missourians have such a song. Or if they did, would sing it to anyone who would listen.

And then there's the Canadians. Wow, that's some serious pride in their country. It was all so new to me.

And then the Texans. Sometimes it was annoying. Everything's big in Texas. Everything's better in Texas. People acted as though it was the only state worth living in and if they weren't living there at the time, they had every intention of getting back there as soon as possible.

Totally foreign concept to me.

And then we moved to Texas. And lived there for 19 months. And then had to leave.

And I get it. I wish I had been born in Texas so I could say I was Texan. I wish we could live there forever. I totally understand those Texans mourning having to leave, or refusing to ever leave. I totally get it.

My sister got Bo a "Don't mess with Texas" t-shirt over a year ago. I was still fairly new to Texas so I thought it was just a funny thing to own. Now we live by it. He's pretty much outgrown the shirt, but every Saturday night we stretch it out as a family so he can wear it to high school if he wants. And if he doesn't grow much more.

So, here I sit, in lil' ol' Iowa. I can't say anything bad about the place. It's just not Texas. That shouldn't be such a crime, but it almost is. I miss you Texas. You may have hardly noticed I was there, what with the hibernating for days at a time with nary a shower or change of clothes---but I was there. And I loved you.

I couldn't help but try to make Iowa my own little piece of Texas, in the midwest.
Pardon the shameless use of my children for my own amusement.
Be assured you will see more of this shirt. And you can be certain everytime you see it that I am laughing quite heartily and undoubtedly thinking I am the funniest girl evoh.