This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
Sure, we've got world-class culture and titans of industry and even a former president or three. But if you're really deep in the heart of Texas, you know that football and barbecue and these other 19 things are the real ways of life.
1. There is no greater Friday-night entertainment than a high school football game--even if you don't have kids. (Said without an ounce of sarcasm.)
2. "Jerry sucks" is the Monday mantra after the Cowboys lose.
3. But "Jerry World" is something you never speak ill of.
4. We can tell someone where we went to school with a simple gesture of our hand--Hook'em, Gig'em, Sick'em, Guns Up, Pony Up, etc.
Advertisement
5. We barely break a sweat in July temperatures. But we bust out the North Face gear the second it hits 60 degrees.
6. The longest part of any road trip is just getting across the state.
7. We adore Marfa but...see above.
8. We can properly pronounce names like Bexar, Boerne, Kuykendahl, Waxahachie and Refugio.
9. We make some mean kolaches. Or at least we buy some mean kolaches.
10. A taquito from Whataburger is best served after midnight and before sunrise.
11. There is a difference between Tex-Mex and Mexican food. (And if you have to ask...you're clearly not from these parts.)
Advertisement
12. Topo Chico is found in every fridge from McAllen to Plano. (And if you think that's some kind of hot sauce...you're also clearly not from these parts.)
13. Barbecuing is what we do. At home. At work. At a tailgate. At a wedding. On the weekends. On the weeknights. On a grill. On a pit. In a smoker. In a car (we wish).
Advertisement
14. Brisket is a food group.
15. "Float" is an action verb. (Best followed by "a river.")
16. Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic is a rite of passage.
17. One word: mums.
18. One word (that everyone thinks is two): highstepper.
19. The fact that we're not even a little embarrassed that our cultural stamps on the world mostly revolve around high school storylines.
20. And the fact that Matthew McConaughey is the best thing to have ever been bred in the state.
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
