Well, the trip is over and the bags are unpacked. What a time. My grandmother is doing a lot better than I thought and she is in good hands at the nursing home she is in. Thank God!

As I sit back and reflect on this event, several things come to mind. First, how did I ever leave this po-dunk town? Why was it me that was “picked” to leave? 99% of my friends from this small town are either baby mama’s/ daddy’s, or are in marriages they really don’t like, have yet to really be out of the “state” on vacation, and have a revolving door policy returning back to the small town. Why me? On the flip side, do those issues make them so “bad” and me so “good” for being “successful?” I mean, what is success anyways? I recall the film Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins in which Martin Lawrence returns home to his small town.

Am I that stuck up that I look down on “these people” for their small town ways, limited worldviews, and nihilistic attitudes? Am I that “blessed” that God hand picked me to leave? I don’t know. I really hate it when we equate blessings with material possessions, the subjective term of success, and monetary achievement. I am not sure that this is the Gospel message my Jesus is talking about. At the same time, I can say that I’ll never return to Menard Texas to live. Nor do I desire to limit myself in anyway if possible. So, how do I contend with that?

 

Second, I did not get as much lecture material for my race & ethnicity classes as I thought I would. Aside from the occasional “You voting for Obama Bro?” questions, the lavish “nigger” and “boy” comments were not bestowed upon me. In fact, people were downright quite nice. We were welcomed everywhere we went. Is the theory that racism has ended, as argued by some of my White friends, really true? Maybe it really is a new America we are living in, and now that Obama is running for president, Texas has changed and progressed from its racist’s tendencies. Maybe, I’m just too danged sensitive, make racism out of nothing, and just try to look for the negative when it comes to race as some of my White associates would say. I think not. 5 days in a cramped motel room, staying in a town that has less people in it than my high school did, happily being greeted by the local Dairy Queen attendant, and having people smile in my face is no indicator that race relations are that much better. I would probably argue that in the 40 years since the 60’s we’ve just learned to put on a good “game face.” Now, does that mean that things will never get better? No, things are looking up. Still, I’m always curious to see what people really think. I’m also sure that a little 19 month old, which is more adorable than adorable itself, also tends to diffuse certain situations too. I would say more research needs to be done on that subject and in that particular context; one of the many reasons why I know if Obama is elected, the country will begin to have deeper conversations regarding race / ethnicity.

 

All that to say, I had a great time in Texas. I knew from the minute we set off the plane in Austin, that we were going into the heart of Texas and getting all the nostalgia an airport “gift store” simply can’t give. We had some great BBQ, saw some really big wasps, ate enough Dairy Queen to make Burger King Jealous, went to the local H.E.B (If you’re from around those parts you know what I mean), consumed plenty of MSG & trans-fats, and saw enough Baptist churches to fill a stadium. We’ll see, I’m sure there will be more adventures in Texas as long as I have family there. Like I said before, it is always a trip going back!