One Year

Our change of address postcard.

Three hundred and sixty five days ago today, "our family moved to Texas." Never in a million years did I imagine I would ever utter those words. Prior to last June 22, 2011, we were east coast people and southerners.

Texas, in case you didn't know, is "Like a Whole Other Country." To me, even a year later, it is so different. It's no wonder the governor's recent talk of secession didn't seem too strange to Texans.  

It's hot here but, mercifully, less humid than Atlanta. The climate is really more desert southwestern than southern. I've come to believe there are just two seasons in Texas:  1) summer and 2) not summer.  And though our first summer here was brutal weather-wise (70+ days over 100 degrees), we didn't mind it so much. It wasn't the 100 degree days that rankled us, it was all those days when it was 107 or 110 or even 113 (like the day we took our daughter to college).  Fortunately, we had a lot of rain  during the winter and spring months this year and Dallas is fairly green and lush right now. The weather folks keep saying this summer won't be quite as hot - I'll let you know.

Otherwise, Texas is interesting. The people here are very friendly and nice. And it's true: the woman are beautiful.  Many people have ties to Atlanta so that is helpful.  Most have interesting and long Texas family histories. People seem to leave, but almost always seem to eventually return.  I have had more than one woman tell me that her husband insisted their children be born in Texas - that generational Lone Star thing is obviously important.

Other things about Texas:

• The terrain here is flat.  I wasn't quite prepared for that.  If you ever want to run a marathon I'm guessing one in Dallas would be a bit easier than, say, one in San Francisco.
• The economy is strong in Texas. Unemployment is low.  (Urban myths abound about $16/hr jobs at McDonalds in Midland, Texas because there simply aren't enough workers). Fuel prices are lower (I paid just $3.21 at the pump yesterday, and the national average for a gallon of unleaded is about $3.45).  
• Texans are storytellers.  If you ask them a question, they tell you a story, which may or may not answer the question. 
• The barbecue and the Tex-Mex here are, as you would expect, very, very good.
• There are lots of Spanish language television and radio stations here.  And, watching telenovelas seems to be a surprisingly good way to improve your spanish speaking skills.  

This time next year - if I'm still writing blog posts - I'll no doubt be able to enumerate even more things about Texas.  Right now, I find myself missing the South. Though it's nice to be able to stay up and watch our family favorites The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report, and Saturday Night Live because of Central Time, I really do miss Eastern Standard Time, friends and family, and familiarity. I guess you could say that I still have Georgia on my mind! 

Texas

Since moving to Texas almost a year ago, I've learned just token amounts of information about what makes this state so proud. Today's holiday is one of those things.  

According to Wikipedia, "Juneteenth commemorates the news on June 19, 1865, that slaves in Texas were free. The general order, read on the steps of Ashton Villa at 2328 Broadway in Galveston, came almost three years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862." 

You're A Grand Ol' Flag

Did you know that Flag Day has been around since 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation officially establishing June 14th as a celebration? In August 1949, an Act of Congress established National Flag Day. 

I love the American flag. Just looking at it evokes all kinds of sentimental thoughts and feelings for me. I even had a Flag Day bridal shower.  You can read about that here.  Since then, my flag devotion hasn't waned.  I even used it as a central theme for decorating my son's bedroom.  He's a military and history buff so it's perfect.  

This iconic image of the Battle of Iwo Jima hangs over his dresser.  When photographer Joe Rosenthal died in 2006, I cut the article out of the newspaper and glued it to the back of the frame.  

This photo is deceiving. The framed print is about 20" x 30"

A print by Georgian Steve Penley (his work is awesome if you're not familiar with it), hangs above my son's bed.  Penley is famous for his Founding Father portraits - you sometimes see them on the Fox News Channel.

America's greatest general flanked by America's first flag with its 13 stars

Finally, I have two prints, similar to this one, by artist Betsy Nimock.  

A 48 star trompe-l'oeil print  with a lovely quote about Honesty.
"An honest man is the noblest work of God.  Honesty will bring its own reward.
The honest penny is better than the stolen dollar.
Honesty is that which compels us when we are wrong to acknowledge it.
Honesty is the best policy."
The photo in the center of the stars is from a teacher's 1920's photo album.

Have a wonderful Flag Day!

Decades Ago

Decades ago today, I graduated from high school.  Believe it or not, this is the lone photo I have of that auspicious occasion.  

A crowd shot from the bleacher's of the First Colonial High School football stadium
(Yeah, we were fancy like that).
Come to think of it, I'm not sure who even took this photo.

You'll have to use your imagination to pick me out of the crowd of 535 graduates.  I don't remember where I sat, though I, no doubt, sat next to my twin sister.  True to form, I don't remember anything about that day and, honestly, shockingly little about my entire high school experience. Don't worry; it wasn't traumatic or anything.  In fact, I remember liking high school, for the most part.  I just have a shockingly poor memory (as evidenced by the fact that I can't remember the post I wrote about my pitiful power to remember anything). It would worry me if I'd ever had a decent memory, but I haven't.  No worries, I still have the tassel from my cap, and I did attend college, so I'm pretty sure I graduated.  

June 6th

National Doughnut Day

Krispy Kreme, Dunkin' Donuts, a bag of cheap powdered Hostess Donettes? Who needs an excuse to eat a doughnut?  So, they're not the healthiest breakfast option around?  They are delicious and celebrating today even has historical significance. 

"National Donut Day was created in 1938 to honor a group of wartime heroes: women working with the Salvation Army who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I."  (It's apparently no coincidence that the holiday is preceded by Memorial Day).  

I love doughnuts (or donuts - as I'm told either spelling is correct).  Not just because soft, sweet, deep fried dough with a glaze is so delicious (I'm not sure I've ever had a bad donut), but also because I have fond recollections of: my husband taking our young daughter to the local Dunkin' Donuts on Saturday mornings - giving me some much needed alone time; of taking green frosted doughnuts to my daughter's preschool class on her St. Patrick's Day birthday (here's a tip, the milk I tinted with green food coloring - not a hit);

and, several summers ago, introducing our French foreign exchange student to the miracle that is the "Hot" light at Krispy Kreme. 

Doubt my donut love?  Here's a set of salt & pepper shakers that
my sister gave me as a gift one year.

Enjoy your doughnuts!

Endings and Beginnings

It's the last day of the school year.  Tate's last exam (English) is today and then, hooray!; it's summer.  McKenzie finished up her first year at college 3 weeks ago!  

As the kids have gotten older, gone are those long, warm (okay, hot) lazy summer days filled with trips to the library, swim meets, the coolness of the movie theatre on $1 movie day, VBS and endless trips to the pool. This summer will instead be filled with get-ahead summer school classes and part-time jobs.  Still, I think summer is my most favorite season - minus the 70+ days of 100 degree weather last year,mind you.  Here's to a great summer and a cooler June, July and August, too!