“A gentleman from Nacogdoches, in Texas, informs us, that, whilst there, he dined in public with col. Crockett, who had just arrived from Tennessee. The old bear-hunter, on being toasted, made a speech to the Texians, replete with his usual dry humor. He began nearly in this style: “I am told, gentlemen, that, when a stranger, like myself, arrives among you, the first inquiry is – what brought you here? To satisfy your curiosity at once to myself, I will tell you all about it. I was, for some years, a member of congress. In my last canvass, I told the people of my district, that, if they saw fit to re-elect me, I would serve them as faithfully as I had done; but, if not, they might go to h__, and I would go to Texas. I was beaten, gentlemen, and here I am.” The roar of applause was like a thunder-burst. [Louisville Journal].”

I use that quote more to illustrate a certain mindset than any specific historical fact. I could have just as easily mentioned the fact that the Texas Capitol’s Rotunda was planned specifically to be seven feet higher than the one in D.C., but that wouldn’t have had quite the same humorous impact (or word count!).

The fact is, a lot of Texans are quite proud of Texas. Iconography abounds, the flag flies high and proud, and a lot of the folks from there (or my family, who seem strangely set on adopting the place) are all about their gigantic, overdone, but still kind of appealing state. (And my lawd, how many times have I heard that line about “And Texas is the only state that reserved the right to secede from the Union!” since I’ve been alive?) It may be a bit overdone, the whole ‘Texas Pride’ thing.

Its no real surprise, then, that it took one of my favorite Texans and a visiting Aussie to finally get me down to the State Capitol in Austin. And you know what? As much as I hated to admit it, its actually kind of cool. Not only is the building itself mighty impressive, but the corridors have a certain weight to them that feels like history hangs heavy there.

I may laugh at the little bits of Texas politics that make the news, but clearly there is SOME beauty hidden somewhere in the body that created an office like this for itself. If nothing else, the big green lawn outside would be a great place to stage a sit-in!