Under the Texan Sun
Well it took me 25 years of hearing about Cuero, Texas, but I finally got there this past weekend, on a whirlwind road trip that brought me to lands I'd never seen but would like to see more in-depth again someday. For those of you who don't know, Cuero holds almost a "sister city" relationship with Worthington, Minnesota, where I moved two and a half decades ago and began hearing about this town, the "Turkey Capitol of the World".
The two cities' connection began because Worthington claimed a similar Turkey Title and so, 50 years ago, a friendly rivalry was born: to see which city truly can claim to be the Head Turkey. Thus began the Great Gobbler Gallop, in which Worthington's turkey, Paycheck, and Ruby Begonia, Cuero's turkey, who this year won the two heats of the race (one in Worthington held in September at King Turkey Days, and one held in October in Cuero at Turkey Fest) by a landslide. Paycheck, so named because nothing goes faster than a paycheck (especially these days, eh?) decided that visiting the crowd sounded a lot more fun than actually trotting, thus ensuring that Cuero gets to keep the Traveling Trophy of Tumultuous Triumph for a year and Worthington is stuck holding the Circulating Consolation Cup of Consummate Commiseration...which, let's face it, nobody wants. But, as my husband pointed out, quite honestly we were glad that Ruby Begonia won, because seeing the joy on the faces of the crowd and attending as a losing visitor rather than a conquering invader was much the more comfortable and appropriate position to be in.
Though I had heard about Cuero for many years, I'd never considered attending the race until this year, when our youngest daughter found out that she'd be there as part of the Spirit of Worthington Trojan Marching Band. She plays the sousaphone, thank you very much. And marched...in the Texas heat...with that thing on her shoulder while I sat on the sidelines wearing a hat and utilizing the paper fan I was given advertising something that I never quite figured out, but I didn't care because...fan. It wasn't even all that hot that day, I admit, compared to what it could be, but 90 degrees in the blazing sun for this Minnesota girl was quite enough.
This was my first visit to Texas. Never, in my 52 years, had I crossed into that fabled land. Well, possibly when I was a baby and my family moved from Miami to Washington, but I don't remember that so it doesn't count. I wasn't sure what to expect, but what I found was better than anything I could have conjured up. Yes, the traffic was insane through the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and yes it was hot, but beyond that I loved visiting the Gulf Coast, where we drove one evening; I loved the adventure of being in Texas; I loved the cows and the vultures and the greenness (I hadn't expected that); and I loved hanging out with my husband almost exclusively for five entire days. That just never happens! And I now have a long list of places I want to return to with more time, more money, and less extreme temperatures.
And so I am thankful, as I return to real life, for the surprise that was southern Texas. What an amazing world God has created! Aren't we blessed to be able to enjoy it!
"The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." Psalm 24:1
The two cities' connection began because Worthington claimed a similar Turkey Title and so, 50 years ago, a friendly rivalry was born: to see which city truly can claim to be the Head Turkey. Thus began the Great Gobbler Gallop, in which Worthington's turkey, Paycheck, and Ruby Begonia, Cuero's turkey, who this year won the two heats of the race (one in Worthington held in September at King Turkey Days, and one held in October in Cuero at Turkey Fest) by a landslide. Paycheck, so named because nothing goes faster than a paycheck (especially these days, eh?) decided that visiting the crowd sounded a lot more fun than actually trotting, thus ensuring that Cuero gets to keep the Traveling Trophy of Tumultuous Triumph for a year and Worthington is stuck holding the Circulating Consolation Cup of Consummate Commiseration...which, let's face it, nobody wants. But, as my husband pointed out, quite honestly we were glad that Ruby Begonia won, because seeing the joy on the faces of the crowd and attending as a losing visitor rather than a conquering invader was much the more comfortable and appropriate position to be in.
Though I had heard about Cuero for many years, I'd never considered attending the race until this year, when our youngest daughter found out that she'd be there as part of the Spirit of Worthington Trojan Marching Band. She plays the sousaphone, thank you very much. And marched...in the Texas heat...with that thing on her shoulder while I sat on the sidelines wearing a hat and utilizing the paper fan I was given advertising something that I never quite figured out, but I didn't care because...fan. It wasn't even all that hot that day, I admit, compared to what it could be, but 90 degrees in the blazing sun for this Minnesota girl was quite enough.
This was my first visit to Texas. Never, in my 52 years, had I crossed into that fabled land. Well, possibly when I was a baby and my family moved from Miami to Washington, but I don't remember that so it doesn't count. I wasn't sure what to expect, but what I found was better than anything I could have conjured up. Yes, the traffic was insane through the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and yes it was hot, but beyond that I loved visiting the Gulf Coast, where we drove one evening; I loved the adventure of being in Texas; I loved the cows and the vultures and the greenness (I hadn't expected that); and I loved hanging out with my husband almost exclusively for five entire days. That just never happens! And I now have a long list of places I want to return to with more time, more money, and less extreme temperatures.
And so I am thankful, as I return to real life, for the surprise that was southern Texas. What an amazing world God has created! Aren't we blessed to be able to enjoy it!
"The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein." Psalm 24:1
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2 Comments
I especially like the part about being alone with your husband for 5 days
Me, too! :-)