A few years ago, I was talking with a young woman over the phone and she stated she was from Texas. As a Native Texan, I asked her where she was born. She told me she was actually born in Virginia but moved to Texas when she was three months old.
As we talked, I thought about the familiar bumper sticker on many a Texas bumper. “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.” It’s certainly my husband’s motto, as a non-native. I felt sure this young woman owned the same bumper sticker, based on the pride I heard in her voice.
What made her story so special? Here’s the rest. You be the judge.
It turns out while the parents of the girl were preparing for her birth while they were in Virginia, her Texas grandmother couldn’t stand the thought of her not being born in the Lone Star State. So Grandma actually sent a plastic bag of Texas soil to her daughter so that when her granddaughter was born, she could put the bag under her during the birthing process and they could say she was indeed born on Texas soil.
Her birth certificate may read Virginia as her native state, but her family did what they could to welcome this young lady into the world. Some may think this is ridiculous, but I, for one, would love to meet the wonderful grandmother and thank her for being such a great Texan.
Sadly, I don’t remember the name of the young lady but I have no doubt she’s representing the Lone Star State well wherever she is.
Until next time…from Texas…safe travels!
