Maybe it took going so far away from Texas, where I spent years 13-22 of my life, to really understand the beauty of it.  I always joke that Waco, Texas is the armpit of Texas.  And the small, 1 stoplight town of Lorena, where I grew up, is something you could miss in the blink of an eye.  Maybe Texas is the brunt of many jokes, but on a recent visit back I began to notice the sweetness of this place in the simplest of things.  The first night, I sat under the stars at the Lorena high school football stadium watching my youngest sister run the same race I ran on the same track not so long ago.  A friend from years ago ran up to me and gave me a giant hug.  Mr. Pledger was still grilling burgers, hot dogs, and sausage (and shrimp, if he lets you in on it), just like he did when I was in high school.  I mentioned his famous homemade salsa, and the next day we had a jar of it in hand.  The next evening, a number of women whose children I grew up with came over to celebrate one of their birthdays.  We all sat on the back porch and talked about life – the funny things, the sad, and the happy.  These women and their families are more than friends, they are more than community, they are family.  It was so good to talk to each of them and to listen to their wisdom.  Throughout the weekend, driving down the backroads in central Texas on various outings with my sisters, the sun was bright and the sky seemed to stretch out forever.  The bluebonnets were starting to pop up all across the rolling hills where horses and cattle grazed.  One night, my mom and sister drove out into the middle of nowhere to see my friend Kimberly sing at a local venue.  I hadn’t been around real cowboys for a long time and it came as a shock to see them again… at least one beer in hand and one woman in arm, hootin’ and hollerin’ to the music.  Another night, my youngest sister and I were outside after going out for ice cream, and I was surprised (and a bit scared) as a I heard coyotes howling ominously close by.  It makes me happy to know that there is a place just like this in the world, where time moves a little slower and people smile a little wider, no matter where I am.  As I was thinking through all of this, one simple and familiar song came to mind… so I’ll leave you with this:

The stars at night – are big and bright
Deep in the heart of texas.
The prairie sky – is wide and high
Deep in the heart of texas.
The sage in bloom – is like perfume
Deep in the heart of texas.
Reminds me of – the one I love
Deep in the heart of texas.
The cowboys cry – ki-yip-pie-yi
Deep in the heart of texas.
The rabbits rush – around the brush
Deep in the heart of texas.
The coyotes wail – along the trail
Deep in the heart of texas.
The doggies bawl – and bawl and bawl
Deep in the heart of texas.