"How was your trip?"

I recently returned to Minnesota, my current state of residence, from a two week visit to Texas, a.k.a. Home.  I missed my hubby dearly and it is great to be back in my own bed (don’t underestimate the power of the thread count), but I have run into the same challenge multiple times.  Everyone asks, “How was your trip?”  For most circumstances this is a normal, small-talk question, but I keep hesitating to answer.  I hesitate because the appropriate small-talk response, “It was great!” just doesn’t do it justice.  A trip to Texas of any duration should not be summed up into one sentence.

Two weeks is an extended visit even for me, but I was home-sick.  I was more than home-sick, I was desperately missing all things Texas.  During my visit, I loved having the chance to be a part of the obtrusive state pride, being in weather so hot that shady spots are the most valued in a parking lot, and seeing the state flag, Texas shaped silhouettes, and Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys spirit EVERYWHERE I turned.  I treasured every “hill” framed sunset and believing that anything below 90^o F qualified as cool.  I enjoyed incorporating fishing, four-wheeling, fireworks, and firearms into regular days.

I value a freeway with a Whataburger at every other exit and living out of state has given me a deep-rooted appreciation for service roads.  I can’t help but smile when I stop in West, TX for a gas station breakfast (don’t be confused, it’s delicious), and I survey the gas pumps to see that all 8 vehicles getting fuel are trucks.  Road trips become pleasant when there is fantastic food in every town, the speed limits reach 85 mph, and you can stop at Buc-ee’s to gas up. 

I love being in small-town Texas where everyone assumes they are your friend and you can leave your truck running while you go into the one and only convenience store.  Where we kick off Vacation Bible School with an ATV parade and barbequing and grilling mean two different things.  Where half of the town attends a July 4^th family picnic, because they are all related and even those who aren’t related are welcomed all the same.  I relished the opportunity to jump on the four-wheeler and go get muddy after a rainfall.  I now consider it a luxury to go to an open field for target practice and shoot whatever guns I want. 

Prestonwood Sanctuary

I had the privilege of attending my home church, Prestonwood Baptist Church, on Sunday, July 2^nd, where the church participated in the celebration of our nation.  The message from the pulpit and stage was unapologetically patriotic. It was empowering to be a part of a church body who believes the Christian roots of our nation are something we should take pride in and celebrate at every opportunity.  I am grateful that the Pwood leadership team encourages the integration of church and politics and its constituents to be politically active. I had the opportunity to hear first-hand the testimony of the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, and his desire to sustain Christian values in Texas.  It was humbling to honor men and women of the military as part of the service and sing songs of praise, worship, and prayer for our nation.  Yes, we do things quite a bit differently in Texas. 

This isn’t even close to ALL of the things I love about Texas.  I didn’t even mention Tex-Mex Food, because honestly it deserves its own blog post.  And I left off all the wonderful people I was able to connect with and a PERFECT wedding I attended, because that’s a novel, not a blog post.  But hopefully this explains why I keep hesitating to answer the question, “How was your trip?”  This is why being from Texas becomes a part of your identity and why Texas-transplants can bond SO easily when our paths cross in other states.  This is why we proudly wear shirts that say “American by Birth, Texan by the grace of God.” 

 For those of you who haven’t spent enough time in Texas to understand all of the references, here are a few more detailed explanations:

Whataburger- We’re really proud of it, but I’ll be honest the food isn’t that great.  We love Whataburger because the food is hot, cooked after you order it, and it’s always open.  Our love of Whataburger at 2 am brings us back at regular hours. We also love their ketchup packs so much that a major local grocery chain (H-E-B) sells it bottled. Their prices are in 25 cent increments and the price on the menu board includes tax.  This is appealing for those of us who actually still use cash.  They are basically the only restaurant that serves biscuits & gravy that I like and their breakfast menu is pretty awesome by fast-food standards.

Service Roads- I didn’t know how much I loved service roads, until I left Texas.  All of the interstates have a road that runs parallel to the interstate.  These come in handy when you hit traffic, but they make stopping for gas or a bite to eat a quick and easy task.  No driving several miles out of the way to the nearest city. No risking getting lost.  You exit and bam: your favorite restaurant is right there. 

A typical Buc-ee's find! State Pride that
functions as a bottle opener

Buc-ee’s- It’s a gas station on steroids.  Every location has a couple hundred gas pumps, I don’t know how many diesel lanes, and hundreds of extra parking spots.  Inside the bathrooms are nice. Every stall is basically its own room and there are so many stalls, there is never a line.  The shopping is almost as big as a Wal-Mart and includes everything with Texas pride (this is where my Texas shaped waffle iron is from), college pride, and a selection of food that puts pretty much any buffet to shame. 

West, TX- It’s a city, not a geographical region.  It’s an absolutely necessary stop when you travel I-35.  This exit (353) is at the heart of the state’s obsession with Kolaches.  There are now two gas stations offering a wide assortment of Czechoslovakian baked treats and pies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, and normal stuff.  Both sides of the freeway are delicious, but the southbound side is newer with better bathrooms and more gas pumps.      

Grilling vs. Barbequing- Grilling can include steaks, chicken, pork chops, burgers, hot dogs, etc.  Barbequing more commonly refers to smoked meats- briskets, tenderloins, etc., and if used with caution can include ribs, bbq chicken and sausage.  A good general guideline is barbequing refers to a long, slow process, while grilling can be done in under an hour.