My two favorite stories about west Texas..

My grandparents were HUGE Texans. Grew up in San Antonio and married as high school sweethearts. The stories they used to tell all revolved around them living in Texas....and moving constantly due to being in the oil industry.

My grandfather used to say that a true West Texas native will describe their weather as having two seasons.....Summer and Christmas.

And, he said one would describe their climate with a quick sentence. "Well, the almanac will tell you we get about 9 inches of rain per year.....but you should be here the day we get it."

He also used to describe a guy standing on the side of the road waving at the traffic. He said this old man would say the craziest stuff to oncoming traffic because......"They just smile and wave because that is what's expected. You could say anything to someone and they will still smile and wave to you. Here, I'll prove it."

A car comes by. The man waves and says, "Howdy, Turd!"

Of course, the car just smiled and waved as if they were returning the howdy. Apparently, it worked everytime.

Most folks fail to understand how big Texas is: for instance, standing in El Paso, you are halfway between Houston and Los Angeles. The Hill Country of Central Texas is a lovely place to live. Ever since moving to Oregon, I've tried to find a way to live near Llano, Texas in the winter, and St. Helens, OR, in the summer. THEN...I could have home grown tomatoes all year long! As Guy Clark (a West Texan) wrote: "There's only two things that money can't buy: true love and home grown tomatoes." Nonna

I will give you that. The Hill Country is one of the neatest places I've ever been. My family has land on the Frio River near Leakey. We've been there twice, but not for 20 years.

Loved Kerrville, Fredricksburg, the Guadalupe River...the whole bit. It was neat to see the legendary area my grandparents talked so much about.

Agreed, love the area around Fredricksburg. The old home place was between Fredricksburg and Mason, TX (Loyal Valley), the ranch had been in the family since before the War of Northern Agression (Civil War). A highpoint of living on the old ranch was a chance to meet Fred Gibson, author of Old Yeller (first a book, then a Disney movie). His depiction of the area was spot on. Wonderful memories. Saw okra growing wild behind the house on the homestead. My grandkids are now of an age to read Old Yeller for themselves, so I shall pass on the book. Kinda wish I could grow okra here in Oregon--wonder if it grows east near Hermiston where the great melons come from? Best wishes, Nonna

Just tear out the last few pages. I still tear up when I think about the story....and how it ends.

I'm not a native Texan, but I've been here long enough to consider it home, I've always wanted to live here for as long as I can remember. There is a small town in NE TX about 20 miles from the AR, TX border that used to have destinations and their miles posted in huge letters on the side of the building. Chicago IL was 15 miles closer than El Paso TX, that just floored me.