Thanks, Mr. Robinson!

Ran across this last night - we've got lots of songs about Texas, but this version of an old favorite embodies everything that we love about "being" Texans (Lyle Lovett is another Texas Aggie).

We tell lots of "tall tales" - all with a twinkle in our eye.  Everything's bigger in Texas, and we have lots of fun making sure that the legend lives on (just ask my oldest daughter's dormmates about the super-sized "boot" stocking I sent her for Christmas up in New York State her freshman year!).

But most of all, we just have fun with it - it comes naturally, but it's not something we realize we're doing until we leave the state.  We just assume that people in the rest of the country/world are just like us.

I guess it's true what they say - "Texas is a state of mind."

Thanks for the kind welcome!

Bravo, Josh!  I'm definitely sending this one along to friends and family (most of them native Texans).

Then, of course, there are the "classic" Texas quotes:

"The rest of you may go to Hell - I am going to Texas" - Davy Crockett;

"Texas was Hell on women and horses; and Heaven for men and cattle.";

"Remember the Alamo!";

and, of course, "Don't Mess With Texas"....

"What makes Texas Texas?"

Well, I just paid to become a Ricochet "member" so that I could add a comment...

It might be because for 99% of the Texas population, it's at least a 1-2 hour drive (at 70 mph) to get to "the next state".  Most of us don't know "anything" OTHER than Texas until we are old enough to know that there is a whole other world out there.  And by that time, Texas IS our world.

The sheer size and climate of Texas tends to make it self-segregating - either you love it here or you hate it here - if you love it, you stay; if you hate it, you leave.  And if you stay, pretty soon you are referring to yourself as a Texan! 

We take Texas hospitality VERY seriously around here, and go out of our way to make sure that visitors feel welcome.  We're used to just striking up a conversation with anyone sitting next to us (that gets us in trouble in other states.....).

I hope you  have a great time while you are here, Mr. Robinson - Mr. Perry is a good ol' Texas boy (and an Aggie!).