I would live here.
I don’t say that often.
I grew up in Texas and I have a hard time imagining myself loving any place as much. You don’t understand, I know, but maybe this will help. Imagine your ex-girlfriend is a former super model and weekly volunteer at the local homeless shelter, with a masters degree, an infectious laugh, and a collection of Shaun Groves CDs. Great taste. Now, how could anyone you met after her ever compete.
Tennessee’s like your ex-girlfriend’s only slightly less attractive sister. She’s smart too but her degree is in pottery and that shouldn’t count should it? She’s compassionate and whatnot but you’re not sure volunteering at the animal shelter once a year is really all that big of a deal. And her laugh’s great, really, except that if she really gets going she snorts…and you can’t help but notice that when she does that she sounds a little like your cousin Ray – the one that can fit five hotdogs in his mouth at the same time. Yea, she snorts like that. Oh, and she’s a big Lee Greenwood fan. She’s a great girl and all but, come on, she’s no Texas. She’ll never be.
But here I am in Washington. Highways lined with giant wilderness. It’s seventy degrees in July. Cool breeze. The friendliest most laid back people are everywhere – gas stations, churches, a little deli – the place is packed with happy relaxed folks.
All I’m saying is when I’m through with Tennessee, if Texas won’t have me back, I’m moving in with Washington.
Oh, and she saved 39 kids this weekend. Ain’t she sweet?
And here’s the girl…I mean the place I call home right now.
Hi Shaun, feel free to come up past the border into BC, it’ll continue to knock your socks off. BC stretches the Pacific Northwest goodness further and deeper and is pretty much that amazing. =p
i enjoy your blog a lot. but don’t comment nearly as much to match that. but here’s a start. take care,
Your Friendly Canadian Neighbor. =)
Shaun!
I miss Seattle, I really do. Having grown up on Seatle, I know that the people there really don’t know what they have until they move away.
A man that follows God wonders why He brings, him to some of the most God forsaken lands. But, here I am in Houston, a place you despise, (at least thats what you said the last time I talked with you).
I actually don’t mind Houston. It is sticky, but where I am right now I have beautiful pine trees all around me. It’s as close to the evergreens of Washington I will ever get.
So for now, I am going to take a shower, because I feel really sticky and gross.
Although, I do agree you can’t beat Texas pride!
I had a friend who lived in Seattle for 3 years, and when she moved back to Memphis, I flew up there and helped her make the drive across the country. Washington and Oregon were my favorite states. I didn’t want to leave.
So, waht you are saying is that you don’t value sunshine?
Ever been to Northern California?
Hi Shaun,
My wife and kids and I were at the show last night at Longview, and I just wanted to say thanks for your powerful message and wonderful ministry. Longview would definitely embrace you as one of its own if Texas disowns you someday! We were sitting in the 2nd row, behind the family with the little girl that started crying during one of your songs. My wife and I were nearly in tears when you spoke about children after that song. We find ourselves in that place far too often. Where we want them to be “proper” in church, and therefore try to keep them from just being kids and just loving them unconditionally, just as God does for us. There’s so much more I’d like to share with you and thank you for, but don’t want to clog up your shlog! So anyway, be strong brother! And I’m praying that God continues to bless you with great music and an even greater ministry!
This is my favorite post of yours EVER Shaun! Okay so I am a little biased because you are speaking such kind words about my home. Now you know why I was always willing to talk about all things Washington at Ikon. And Brian…you just had to get a little dig in there didn’t you?
There is such a thing as sunshine in Washington. You just have to know the right time to visit. Oh and I have to second Steph the Canadian’s comment…BC is absolutely beautiful as well.
Another great story—thank you for for a great lunchtime laugh! I’ve driven behind the same trucks—somehow my Jetta Rabbit couldn’t look as “tough” (even if I added the stickers).
Shaun,
Texas will always take you back, but the west is a great option to have
Hey Texans, could you please explain to this Jersey girl the concept/practice of “Texas pride?” What makes Texas so much better than everyplace else?
Shaun, i just think you live in the wrong city. That’s all.
Augh. My dear daddy and my darling husband are both born Texans. Neither live there now, or lived there for more than three or four years of their lives, but there is something in their walk, talk, & attitudes which says they’re Texans.
I can’t explain it, Nancy.
Tennessee has been very good to me.
But were I to relocate, I must admit there are places in Texas on the short list. And that says a lot for a Redskins girl. Not that I’d ever tell that to Shaun. Ever.
Heh, heh. Bewitched by the great Northwest, are you? Don’t worry, even if you would enjoy it, your wife won’t without antidepressants in the winter. Do you know the most reliable way to tell that it is spring and no longer winter in the NW? The rain is warm. A temperate climate is a pretty nice feature of WA state, but it comes at the price of 4 distinct seasons. There are really only two seasons on the west-side of the state: summer and the rainy season.
Having said all that, I still think it is the prettiest place on the planet.
MB
Nancy,
There are a number of things that go into the whole Texas pride thing.
1. Texas was once an independent country. A country that opted to join the U.S.
2. The state of Texas is big even after allowing portions of the Republic to become eastern colorado and portions of New Mexico and Oklahoma.
(here’s a map:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/texas/map-republic-texas.htm)
3. As with many Western States, there is a rugged individualism that comes with being a Texan.
4. Texas has 5 clearly defined geographical areas so you can go from a coastal ecosystem, to blackland prairies, to hill country, to mountains, to desert and never leave the state.
5. The state of Texas could sustain itself without the other 49. it would be inconvenient, but it could happen, and the children are taught this from an early age.
Other Texans can add to the list, but I think that starts to paint the picture.
Texas is the only state in the union that can secede with a simple vote from our state legislature. Texas is also the only state that can fly the state flag at the same level as the US flag. It simply is its own country.
I had a friend from California that was so confused at the ‘Texas Pride’ when he first moved to Austin. He decided to do a verbal survey of those native Texans to see how they rated this pride. He asked each person to rank their Texas Pride from 1-10. 1 being ‘you don’t care’ and 10 being ‘you would die for the state’. He was stunned when he found the average response to be an 8.
So, Shaun and Brian, is the Cult-de-sac a little enclave of Texas North East of the Red River?
Adding to the list…
Texas, I was taught in college, can not only secede from the Union but in doing so it would still have the fifth largest GNP in the world.
Texas is the only state with a pledge to it’s flag. School kids (like me) sometimes start their day with this pledge and/or singing the state song.
Texas is also the only state with a flag retirement ceremony laid out in its laws. While there are general rules for retiring the U.S. flag, Texas set out a detailed script for the “somber ceremony” which ends with the saying of the flag’s pledge.
It’s a whole ‘nother country.
Details here.
How does Texas always end up getting the limelight…even when the post is suppose to be about the great Northwest!? Amazing. I must admit though that even this former Washingtonian learned a lot from everyone’s comments about Texas. When I was a student at Wheaton College there was even an official campus club organized by Texans for Texans. No other state had its own club. That always baffled me but now I understand “Texas Pride” a little bit more. Thanks for the enlightenment.
freedom1st: “The state of Texas is big even after allowing portions of the Republic to become eastern colorado and portions of New Mexico and Oklahoma.
(here’s a map: http://www.sonofthesouth.net/texas/map-republic-texas.htm)
MB: I looked at the map linked to above, and maybe I’m starting to understand why I find so much animosity and resentment for Texans in New Mexico. It had rather surprised me when I first moved here. The Spanish founded a town in New Mexico over 20 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. That was over 50 years after the Spanish first arrived and explored the area. New Mexico has it’s own proud heritage and it ain’t Texan. To call everything east of the Rio Grande part of Texas is arrogance, pure and simple. It’s 1000 times worse than the British saying that they allowed the colonies to secede. The British actually controlled the colonies for a while. Texas never once controlled all the territory claimed by that map. In fact, there were some Texans who were so bold as to try and act on that claim. The president of Texas sent an expedition to assert that claim in 1841. Those people were captured and sent to Mexico City until US (not Texan) diplomatic efforts ensured their release.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Santa_Fe_Expedition
Everything east of the Rio Grande was part of Texas and was “allowed” by Texas to secede? You’re just joking, right?
MB
I never said it was allowed to secede. The borders of the Republic of Texas were contested by Mexico, but the land in question was given to the US by Texas after joining the Union for the US clearing up some debt of the Republic. My point was more to demonstrate what Texas pride looks like (after giving some of the reasons it exists) than to offer a historical explanation of how Texas’ territories were determined.
from wikipedia:
One of the primary motivations for annexation was that the Texas government had incurred huge debts which the United States agreed to assume upon annexation. In 1852, in return for this assumption of debt, a large portion of Texas-claimed territory, now parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Wyoming, was ceded to the Federal government.
Wikipedia page on the Republic of Texas
Things I know about Texas: The stars at night shine big and bright deep in the heart of Texas. Don’t mess with Walker Texas Ranger, he’ll kick your butt! They are SERIOUS about their BBQ.
Things I know about Washington: It rains, rains, rains! They have great seafood and they throw it at Pike’s Place Market. And everyone there is Grunge.
It’s short to drive to Texas from Minnesota then to Washington, but the drive to Washington is way better.
BTW-That’s not really what I know about each state. I’ve been to more numerous times. And each one is great, but I wouldn’t want to live in either. Because I LOVE MINNESOTA!