Sunday, August 26, 2007

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.

12 comments:

a said...

OH, I'm sorry I think I read that shirt wrong, isn't it supposed to say..."DON'T MOVE TO IOWA!!!!!". But NEways, Texas misses you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tori :) said...

God bless Texas... Love it or leave it.
I feel your pain. Thanks for depressing me.

Anonymous said...

I can't help noticing the PRIDE Bo has in the first photo vs the other two pics. I can't believe after a 1 month totally time in my life in Texas I feel the exact same way:(((((( Amazing

Leslie said...

i totally hear you, angela! i've lived here in texas for a total of 7 years now, and i am a true convert. :)
i love it, i want to stay, much to my family's utter shock. no to california. no to arizona.
give me texas or give me death. (or sometimes, on days like today, when we live in a sauna-ish rain forest, give me texas AND give me death. cuz i hate summer here.)
anyway, sorry about the tangent. my husband has a shirt that says "don't mess with kansas either." it gets some good laughs.
ok. i'm all done.

Bex said...

I know that Texas misses you! damn straight about Canadian pride, but I love being a Texas transplant, it doesn't get below 0. I've lived in Canada, Nevada and Arizona, but we're here to stay in Texas! (although I still love being a Canadian).
If I'm not considered a true southerner here, I sure am considered one in Canada.

Sketchy said...

Ok pardon me a moment, but there is an actual song with lyrics like "I'd rather be from Idaho than any other place I know, Idee-idee-idee-idee-Idaho"

???

I'm speechless.

Code Yellow Mom said...

Oh dear...;)

Just for the record, there are lots of Texans who leave Texas. They move to my old hometown in Colorado. And try to make it Texas. Not a chance.

But it's better than trying to make it Missouri, I guess.

The T-shirt is killer, at any rate.

Super Happy Girl said...

It's ok if yo use your kids for our own amusemnet. Now, if you were using them or profit, then, who knows.
You'll have to sing that song to me, as I am but a little Mexi and don't know it.

Millie said...

"Don't mess with Iowa" sounds so lame. It reminds me of a bedraggled housewife sighing at her children for the 49th time, "Kids... don't drag them muddy feet across my clean kitchen flo' agin." She might as well be speaking Chinese.

Unknown said...

Just remember that Texas is replete with chiggers (yes, I'm shuddering.) Does the new place have yucky stuff like that? I really hate bugs.

I don't have a place of my own to call because I grew up all over the west (24 elementary schools by the time I hit junior high, and three junior high my seventh grade year. Then we finally settled in one place. (Mom divorced my dad.) But if I had to pick a place to be proud of . . . it would be where I spent my high school years. Beautiful, gorgeous, magnificent, awesome Colorado.

Amy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rebecca said...

I may not have been born a in Texas but I got here as fast as I could.. and yes.. I am Texas.. ask my caller Id and yes Texas misses you!!!