Confessions of a Wannabe Texican

Texans for Obama Marfa TexasMy Dad hates Texas. In the 1950s, he joined in the Air Force and got stuck in Wichita Falls. He endured a lot of anti-Latino sentiment back then, and it’s still fresh in his memory. So now, when I tell him how much I like it here, he just shakes his head and doesn’t get it.

I think I’m seeing a different Texas now, and I have to believe that attitudes have evolved since my Dad’s Air Force days.

As I cruise through the state and soak up the culture, I’m finding that Texas is full of it; culture, that is. The food, the music, the attitude. And it doesn’t belong to just one ethnic group either, it belongs to the People.  There’s nothing else like it anywhere.

I like Texas because it offers me the perfect blend of what I, a third-generation Mexican-American pocha, loves the most: Apple Pie and pan dulce, bluegrass and tejano. In Tejas, I can be a hillbilly or a beaner! A beaner-billy, if you will. I love the way the best of American and Mexican cultures are so closely intertwined in much of this gigantic landscape.

Rene hikes to View Casa Grande in Big BendI’m really digging the way it’s all about being TexMex in the Lone Star State. Yee haw and Ayi Yai Yai!

12 thoughts on “Confessions of a Wannabe Texican”

    • Judy, you are so funny! I know about that school board hearing, I’ve been following it.

      We’re new here, but based on what I’ve seen, I’d say about 50 percent of the people are forward thinkers, and the rest are throwbacks. Keeps the debate interesting I suppose!

      Thanks for commenting.

      Reply
  1. Hmmm, my dad was in the Air Force and was stationed in Wichita Falls in the 50s! I wonder if they knew each other?

    So you’re close to LA? Are you planning on visiting that fine state? We’re ready to start heading north. It’s getting too hot and humid in the Eglades. We’re planning on heading up to the Merrit Island area for a week or so before starting to work our way north to MN for the summer.

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    • That would be really, really weird if they were there at the same time. I think Dad was there in 1952/1953? (he’ll probably chime in to verify this..stay tuned).

      And yeah, we are SO close to Louisiana. Man, we are seriously thinking about going there and getting some crawfish and doing some dancin’ down in Acadiana. It’s getting humid here too though.

      Hey can’t wait to hear about the next leg of your journey. Happy travels!

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  2. Ahhhh yes, Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls. I spend 3 months there in ‘ought 70’. My friend got in trouble when I used his mail box on base to subscribe to the Black Panther Newspaper. Talk about no tolerance.. The best thing about being in the Military is….being out… Oh well, didn’t have to go to ‘Nam so best choice at the moment as the draft breathing down my neck after college..

    Mike

    T-shirt weather in Eureka today..

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    • Mike, you are so funny! Do you still have the Panther newspapers? That would be fun to see!

      T-shirt weather…in April? Last time we were there at Easter it was freezing cold and raining. Ah, look at what global warming has done for that little corner of the universe? Neat!

      Reply

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