Tuesday, July 2, 2024
Memorial Day is this weekend, and historically, the holiday marks the beginning of summer travel season. I recently learned that authorities estimate this summer will be the busiest travel season in history with a record number of flights and tourists.
I am sure there are lots of folks who spend months planning where to go on their summer vacation. Time off from work is a precious commodity, and when families take their well-deserved time off, they want to spend it in a meaningful way. Many people from around the county and around the world have planned to travel to Texas this summer to see our “sights,” experience our culture, and find out what Texans are all about. For those of us who live here, the influx of visitors can be exciting as well as a little overwhelming.
Why do people want to travel to Texas? Without a doubt there are those who want to visit our national treasures — like the Alamo. They want to experience Texas history firsthand and up close. Folks travel for miles because visiting the Alamo is a bucket list item; something that most Americans want to be able to say they have experienced; something parents want their children to experience.
Other visitors want to hit our Texas beaches and enjoy the gulf waters. Still others want to visit the Fort Worth Stockyards or the San Antonio Riverwalk. Outdoor enthusiasts travel to Big Bend National Park or fish and ski on one of our many reservoirs. There is shopping in Dallas and Houston, the Kennedy Space Center, rodeos, community celebrations, and food and drink. There is a desire on the part of most of the world to have a taste of all of it.
Just the thought of so many people wanting to “know” Texas and “feel and see” Texas should make all us Texans swell with pride. We clearly have something they do not have.
A portion of our citizens carry a small degree of disdain for visitors. They become fussy because they might experience more traffic on their streets than is usual, or the line at their favorite restaurant may be a little longer. I am told some residents fear the visitors will like Texas so much they will want to move here and make us grow more than some would like. Isn’t that an interesting dilemma to have — citizens being concerned travelers will be so overwhelmed with the positives of Texas they will want to move here? I do not know for sure, but I am guessing not many people in Lincoln, Nebraska experience such a fear. I hope all of us good-natured, friendly Texans open our hearts to our visitors and appreciate the value they bring to our economy and to the mystique of Texas being a unique and special place.
I think my friend, Jimmy Jack, is a good example of what Texas hospitality is all about. Jimmy Jack never met a stranger. Just walking down the street with him is a lesson on how to interact with other human beings. He cannot pass a person without saying something engaging, even if it is just throwing a smile their way. It is like he wakes up with the single purpose of making sure everyone he meets has a good day. Jimmy Jack is the poster child for what a hospitable, friendly Texan looks like.
My favorite Jimmy Jack story is the time his family was getting ready to go to the movies. Everybody was getting ready to head out the door and get in the car when the phone rang. Jimmy Jack answered and spoke to the caller. His wife and children were all anxious to get to the theater and were tapping their feet on the floor and anxiously glancing at the clock on the wall, wanting Jimmy Jack to finish the call so they could leave.
Finally, after perhaps 10 minutes, his family could hear Jimmy Jack say loudly, “Nice to talk to you. See you tomorrow night at 6. Looking forward to it” and then he hung up the phone. With his entire brood staring at him, his wife finally inquired who the heck Jimmy Jack had been talking to. Without hesitation Jimmy Jack responded, “It was a wrong number, but they are coming to supper at 6 tomorrow. Sure seemed like nice folks!”
I am not going to guarantee you the above-described event happened, but I do know that Texas storytelling is another reason why people love Texas!
Welcome to all you visitors! Take your time a-going, and hurry back!
Thought for the day: Travel makes one modest. It makes you see what a tiny space you fill in the world.
Until next time…I will keep ridin’ the storm out!
sam@hcnews.com
