We live east of Fredricksburg. It's beautiful countryside. Yeah, the summer heat can last too long for some, but the mild winters make up for it. I can't say I enjoy the scorpions in the house- fortunately haven't ever been bit. Also we discovered a coral snake in our bedroom last summer- glad I didn't step on it during the night...
OK. I am a native Texan, and I have very strong memories of a snake in my lap at age 5 (a BIG fat garter snake that met a quick demise at the chopping end of a hoe, but still....), of scorpions in the house, of tarantulas on the back porch, and of tornado warnings swirling around, with us hiding in the closet. Hurricanes weren't so scary; they were kind of exciting. Boarded up windows, mattresses against the windows inside. It was like building a fort. I guess my dad made it seem kinda fun.
I am scared to death of snakes. Rattlesnakes, but now I remember also hearing about coral snakes. More for my dogs, though, than for myself.
I live in California now, where my dad moved us when I was about 12.
I feel more Californian than Texan.
HOWEVER.
At one point Dad moved back to TX, to Kerrville, when I was just ready to start college, and I have good memories of that area for a short time (even with the scorpion skittering across the kitchen floor. GAH.) before I returned to CA.
And I was back there in Austin in March '09 and I have very sweet memories of bluebonnets and a very gentle breeze. I would like to see the bluebonnets again.
I have roots down in Alice, my dad's mom's grandparents are buried in 2 little cemeteries just NE of Luling, and just after I stop in City Market for some Lockhart sausage -- which is a National Treasure, as far as I am concerned -- I am heading to the cemeteries, for the first time.
And that's just this next week. DH already knows that I plan to pack up him and the dogs and head back a little later in the spring. Maybe then we will catch some bluebonnets.
Apparently, "you can take the girl out of Texas....."
Hook 'em, Horns!