Observations About the Great State of Texas

We've lived in Texas almost 4 years now.  Although it was only a few states away from our original location, it might as well have been another world away. Things are different here and that's what I'm about to share with you now...in list form no less.  Maybe some of these things are only associated with Beaumont, but in my limited experience, I just can't say for sure.

1.  Mobility scooters on the road pretending to be actual vehicles-

 Although I believe everyone deserves a way to get where they're going, the number of people who use mobility scooters on the roads here as if they were cars is alarming.  These things are not road worthy...they don't even have blinkers.  The first time we saw this we just laughed and laughed. Now four years later we just shake our heads a lot.

2.  Lawn edging wide enough to jog in-

In Beaumont, the space between the edge of the grass and the sidewalk or road can be anywhere from an inch to...well...a foot.  It's ridiculous.  And ugly.  It's not everybody, but enough that it makes me wonder.

3.  Garage areas set up as living rooms-

I'm not saying people in other towns don't enclose their garages to create extra living space.  I'm saying people in other towns don't set up their garage space like a living room with a TV and a couch and whatever else and then open the garage door and hang around in there with the door wide open.  I don't get it.  And it's stupid hot here.  Wouldn't they rather be inside?  I can't show you a picture because I was too embarrassed to be caught snapping pics of my crazy neighbors.

4. That beautiful lone star-

As soon as I moved here, I bought myself one of those big metal stars to hang somewhere on my property.  That star is everywhere.  I bought mine because I saw so many of them I felt like it was probably a law or something and I didn't want to be kicked out of Texas for not having mine. I admit this particular peculiarity doesn't bother me in the least.

5.  The obvious gun thing -

Did you ever watch "Miss Congeniality?"  Gracie Hart is reprimanded for mistakingly tackling the wrong guy in a crowd because she saw he had a holstered gun.  Ms. Morningside replied "Of course he had a gun.  This is Texas. Everybody has a gun.  My florist has a gun."

6. Abnormally huge sense of State pride-

People here are very proud of their state.  I'm sure they have their reasons.  Texas definitely has size on its side.  From Beaumont, I could travel east for 380 miles and wind up in my old town of Mobile, Alabama, clearly three full states from here.  If I travel west for 380 miles, I'm still in Texas.  I think this is where the pride comes in.  There is just a LOT of space here and plenty of room for very big egos and very big stuff.  And if you're in Beaumont, there aren't a lot of trees blocking that space so you can get some pretty big stuff in here.  And then there's the Alamo thing.  And that whole 'we were our own country' or something at one point thing.  And they definitely pledge allegiance to the state flag at all the important gatherings and at school, during which I shuffle my feet and feel ashamed because I just don't know it.

7.  And then there's this - that happened on my bike ride today- 

I just do not know.  Told ya.  Different.