Favorite State

How in the world can I choose my favorite US state where I have visited? In addition to traveling to individual states, including Alaska and Hawaii, I spent a year traveling — and living — around the country in a Winnebago with my ex, our five-year-old son, Jack, and our schnauzer, Hickory. My initial thoughts go to the big states with their fabulous national parks: Texas, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. Then, I think of Maine, where my second honeymoon was at Acadia. As an afterthought, I think about the political situations in various states and wonder if that should play a role in my decision. I think of Florida, which I currently view as rather tacky, though I’ve also had varied and amazing experiences there, through the years.

I’ve narrowed it down to Texas and Florida, each with political stances at odds with my own. Mentally flipping a coin, it lands on Texas.

My first trip to Texas was in 1973, to attend a gathering for Guru Maharaji, when I was a new devotee of this fifteen-year-old from India. The event occurred within the Houston Astrodome; it was unforgettable, as it was my first such event. My return to Texas the following year was more leisurely and more scenic.

Two striking memories included Corpus Christi and Big Bend National Park, two very different places. I had never heard of either, before being there. The appeal of Corpus Christi, for me, was the beach on the Gulf of Mexico. There was a reminder of Plum Island, the place here that was most similar. Right next to Padre Island National Seashore, it seemed to me to be a magical place. We were spending the year avoiding winter, following the sun. Spending several days being right there, sleeping in the Winnebago, rising to walk the endless white sand and swim in the warm water (warm, as compared to the North Atlantic, which was my frame of reference), whenever we felt like it, punctuating the day with meals as we wanted, what could be better? The only reason to leave was that we knew there was so much more to experience, including Mexico, which we had yet to enter. When we did, we entered through Laredo, exploring our neighboring country for two months, beginning with dinner in Monterrey. There we were delighted with what seemed like a spectacular dessert served to Jack. It looked like an Easter basket, wrapped in colorful cellophane, holding multiple treats.

After that detour to Mexico, we returned to Texas and headed for a national park that we had never heard of: Big Bend. The name is a reference to the ‘big bend’ in the actual Rio Grande. All of the images that had been in my head about the ‘bigness’ of Texas became real for me in that park. Specifics in my memory have dimmed; what remains is beauty, grandeur, and the accuracy that existed in the name of the river: the grand river, the Rio Grande.

Years later, I returned with friends to San Antonio, with its touristy river walks, which we thoroughly enjoyed, and, of course, the Alamo. On another trip, I visited a friend in Dallas and was exposed to a gold-trimmed lifestyle, very different than New England’s modesty. And on a business trip for Price Waterhouse in the 90’s, I had a completely different experience. When I visited our office there, I was invited to leave my firearm, which didn’t exist, at the main desk before entering our office space.

I have enjoyed my many travels throughout the United States. Upon reflection, Texas stands out for many reasons, especially for its unexpected variety and natural beauty. Please don’t mistake this as a shining recommendation for Texas!

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