Oh, Janet, I sure know Texas is a singular region. There is nothing like it anywhere that I could imagine!! I had wild and crazy Texas aunts who hunted and fished their way through life there. Skinning a deer was nothing to them, and I remember homemade venison sausage fondly. Taking a tiny boat out in the Gulf and returning with a fish as large as it was (who fought valiantly for its life, incidentally), was just another day's play. There were guns--rifles, shotguns, and in the case of my aunt who went crazy at the end and carried one in her purse, which she used to brandish, handguns--everywhere. In fact, if there is one very interesting thing about Texas for me, it is the degree of spunk the women have had historically. There is a frontier mentality more than a Southern one--the Old West lives on there.
Having said all that, the degree to which each race lives totally separate lives is notable. I just read a biography of Selena, the young singer who was murdered, and was surprised to read about the segregation that continues on. And I have not been in Texas since my aunt waved her loaded handgun at me, but even in the '80's it seemed that it was okay to openly make disparaging remarks about people of color. I observed a lot of prejudice. I hope things have rapidly changed!!!
I am still interested in hearing more about the woman with the biracial daughter who moved to the South, when you have time. I did not go to Napa, spending the entire weekend in bed, still sick. But I hope to go soon!!! There is not much I like more than spending money on art and antiques, and I am experiencing some pent-up demand!! |
