Proud to be a Texan - Native or Otherwise

Since today is “Go Texan Day”, February is “American Heart Month”, and it is rodeo season here “Deep in the Heart of Texas”, maybe I’ll just use those excuses to show my pride in being Texan.  Not that I actually feel the need to justify a flaunting of my heritage, but did I mention being a 5^th Generation Texan?  (Yes, indeed, it is a capitalized phrase, a specifically defined term.)  However, after getting hooked on web searches deep into my genealogical roots, and learning that the “5^th Gen” label stems from both of my parents’ sides of the tree, I now wear the title more like a badge of honor.  Believe it or not, one of my descendants proudly boasts a “6 Gen” tattoo on his arm.  Now, while I am not much of the tattoo-type girl, I often do wear symbols reminiscent of the great state of Texas, including jewelry shaped like that ever recognizable geography, fringed leather and big belt buckles, a felt cowboy hat with a sparkling tiara band, and of course, cowboy boots with the Lone Star flag emblazoned on the side.  Whenever visiting the State Capitol in Austin, I have been known to drag total strangers down to the east basement to admire the group photo containing state representatives from 1909.  There, my great-grandfather John Riley Luce stares solemnly from a profile portrait.  (J. R. L. is another source of pride in that he helped to make school books free to Texas children.)

One thing about proud Texans, though, is that they are always welcoming to those who are not from around here.  Like Lyle Lovett drawls “That’s right, you’re not from Texas. But, Texas wants you anyway.”  (You got to figure Lyle is probably a pretty smart guy and knows what he’s talking about.  After all, he is a native Texan and grew up to marry Pretty Woman, at least for awhile.)  So, the other day, I met a new friend from Massachusetts (who was lucky enough to land a job in Texas because those folks back East just don’t have enough jobs to go around, bless their hearts) and was explaining to her the origin of the Six Flags New England amusement park.  Poor girl had no idea that the name of these mega entertainment venues reflects the six different nations that have laid claim to Texas over the ages.  She was clearly impressed, especially when I related to her (with appropriate humility) that my ancestors were here back when Texas was its own Republic.  Believe it or not, she blurted out loud “Texas is like a whole other country” before I advised her that such a thought was not unique and, in fact, the Governor’s Tourism office had already copyrighted the accuracy of that notion. 

And, speaking of Governor, whether or not you’re a Rick Perry fan (yes, I am), if at all honest, you must admit that the Texas Governor is way cooler than other governors.  I mean, it’s one thing to have a Guv who could have been a twin separated at birth from the Marlboro Man.  It’s another to say he holds the longest running term of office ever in the most economically dynamic state in the Union (no brag, just fact.)  And, like the former Texas Aggie Yell Leader he is, Rick is always leading the charge to keep Texas in first place.  What other “head of state” makes the national news repeatedly, whether he’s recruiting California companies or taking on a coyote that threatens his beloved dog?  Now, that’s pretty cool.

So, if you’re a Texan, whether native, transplant, adopted or otherwise, show your Texas pride, and Go Texan!

The Big Picture of The Big Game in The Big Easy

Super Bowl XLVII was a week ago, and most sports followers have already moved on to the NBA All-Star Game this week in Houston.  But, the lasting impressions of the Super Bowl in New Orleans still stir up excitement - WOW!  What a game!  Yet, this is so much more than an annual one-day game, so much more than a gigantic sporting event, so much more than a television extravaganza, and definitely so much more than a half hour power outage.  The city of New Orleans and every last person involved in this Super Bowl deserved more than the media obsession with how long the lights were out, what happened to cause the outage, whose fault it is that the electricity failed, and on and on.

Now, consider The Big Picture:  I can’t even imagine the massive preparations required around what is now “Super Bowl Week”.  How many gazillions of hours were spent by the players on weight equipment and physical therapy tables?  Or by team coaches reviewing and strategizing and re-strategizing?  Or by Beyonce’ and crew relentlessly rehearsing a perfectly executed halftime show?  (I’m proud to say that girl’s a native Texan by the way.)  Or by peanut vendors and burger flippers and t-shirt sellers and hand towel suppliers in making sure no one’s good time would be hampered by a shortage of their wares during The Big Game?  Who knew that a beer company sponsor would go to such great lengths as to replace every sign, emblem and label in their New Orleans hotel, right down to the hotel room shower curtains, with their own logo just for their guests attending this big event?  Records of physical greatness were defied, outlandish bets were lost and won, fabulous wardrobes were bought and flaunted, restaurants and hotels overflowed with good times, the overhauled Superdome became a thing of beauty again, the city of New Orleans (a/k/a/ The Big Easy) was embraced by the world, and oh yeah, I almost forgot - the lights went out for awhile.

By the way, in case it’s not evident, I do love sports spectating.  I have ever since my first cheerleading position, won with homemade lapel signs and cutesy slogans (“Don’t be a Goose, Vote for Nelda Luce”  …thought that one up myself.)  Put on the spot, right there at my first football game at William B. Travis Junior High, I was forced to grasp the difference between offense and defense, and to comprehend which cheer worked - and which did not.  After all, it was pretty difficult to rouse even a crowd of players’ parents by enthusiastically screaming “Push ‘em back, push ‘em back, waaaaaay back!” when our own quarterback was scrambling to throw a long pass.  So, after some instant on-the-job training, I became a true sports fan then and there.

Which is why I, like many other football folks, look forward all year to Super Bowl Week.  The pregame festivities, the coin toss, the kickoff, every quarter, every play, every penalty, every commercial, and of course, like the cheerleader in me, the halftime show.  But, a lesson to be learned is that we shouldn’t allow the smaller surprises like a short loss of power to overshadow the extraordinary effort it must take to entertain the world for an entire week.  So, a shout out to The Big Easy:  You’re still a bright spot in The Big Picture!