PLATFORM : A Texas Howdy

Californians are wagon-training it to Texas, primarily to San Antone (doesn’t matter it’s spelled Antonio; that’s how everyone says it) and to Austin, the capital city.

Half a million people live in this riverside community but she acts like a maiden of 50,000. This is not a quick and snappy place. Fast drivers, yes. But fast lane, no. People take time to say, “Howyou?” (one word) or “How you be?” And there’s always time to make a joke or share a laugh. Always.

So if you are too important for cordiality, stay put. And if you suffer from Movie Star Syndrome where no one else is quite as beautiful, talented or successful as y’all, then move to Dallas.

Overall, though, Texas is too cool to be rude, They don’t even have fences around their yards. This might explain why “Friendship” is the state motto.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been greeted with “Welcome to Austin” or “Welcome to Texas.” This goes a long way in making up for humidity and chiggers.

In Texas they say, “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.” I waited all of August. The humidity stayed stuck in the trees like gray glue--except for one storm that dynamited the sky, pelting us with five inches of hard rain in one night.

Of course, there was the wave of storms this fall that flooded all of Houston. (But that’s just more reason for living in the hill country.)

So put your attitude out with the rest of the trash, and come on down. Best hurry. As my friend Robin (from Odessa by way of Dallas) says, “Austin’s not too big yet to be rude.”