You can take a person out of Texas, but you can never take away their true Texan soul. Growing up in the Metroplex means we have certain quirks, or so-called “side effects,” and here are some of them:
- We always root for the cowboy…
Baker County Tourism/Flickr
Ray Bouknight/Flickr …and the Dallas Cowboys. Regardless of the season they are having, we bleed blue and silver in support of America’s team. The same can be said about our Dallas Mavs, Dallas Stars, and Texas Rangers. After all, we are truly a professional sports town.
- We are discerning about our tacos.
dave/Flickr Why yes, we’ll have a carne asada, taco al pastor, and a taco de camarones, thank you very much!
- We have literally stopped on the side of the freeway in Dallas to watch the light display of Reunion Tower.
Rick Fogerty (aka Cowboy Rick)/Flickr The ball lights up the Dallas skyline every evening, creatively sparkles, and sometimes even shoots out fireworks, depending on what is being celebrated across Big D.
- Nothing is really too spicy for us anymore.
jeffreyw/Flickr Bring on the freshly-cut and oh-so-hot jalapeños, and don’t forget the fire-breathing salsa! We like our wings hot too, by the way.
- We have gotten lost navigating the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
Bill Lile/Flickr It’s tricky enough finding the right terminal, but knowing which exit to take for which way to head in terms of Dallas, Fort Worth, or Arlington takes skill, even if you’ve lived here for a while.
- We have ridden (or at least posed on) a mechanical bull.
Nathan Rupert/Flickr We may deny it, but a photo most likely exists… somewhere…
- We freak out with tornado warnings, but not watches.
katespace/Flickr True North Texans never underestimate the power… and potential devastation… of a tornado. Our cities have all been impacted by them, so expect us to be on the look out for twisters every “tornado season,” regardless of where we live.
- We grill everything.
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr Bacon-wrapped, fresh jalapeño stuffed poppers, anyone? Of course, our steaks are legendary as well.
- We know all of the dance moves to “Cotton-Eyed Joe.”
Korz 19/Flickr Regardless of whether we know truly how to do a two-step, shuffle, or Texas waltz, everyone knows this silly line dance. Most of us learned it in elementary school from our physical education teacher, usually during a gym fun day.
- Fried catfish is our fish of choice.
rockYOface/Flickr Sure, we’ll eat salmon or tilapia, but there are times when nothing but a deep fat fried helping of this Southern favorite will do.
- We wear shorts, even in cold weather.
Christopher/Flickr It’s rare that it’s actually cold enough for a long stretch of time in North Texas to command a coat. More likely, you’ll find us traipsing around in shorts and bare feet in the winter months.
- We have something in our kitchen that bears the shape of Texas.
protoflux/Flickr Whether it’s a Texas waffle, a state brand to imprint on our steak, Texas muffins, or even a Texas-shaped poached egg, we are pretty proud of our state’s shape. For some strange reason, that translated into whatever we cook.
- We tolerate extreme heat.
Tony Swartz/Flickr It’s nothing to spend the summer with temperatures above 100 degrees, and sometimes they are extreme enough to reach the upper limits of tolerability, so don’t complain to us when temperatures elsewhere hit the 90s. That’s a cool summer breeze for folks around here.
What other things about being a Texan – especially a Dallasite or Fort Worthian – might others think are strange, but we know as simply being “right?” We’d love for you to share your thoughts in the comments below!
Baker County Tourism/Flickr
Ray Bouknight/Flickr
…and the Dallas Cowboys. Regardless of the season they are having, we bleed blue and silver in support of America’s team. The same can be said about our Dallas Mavs, Dallas Stars, and Texas Rangers. After all, we are truly a professional sports town.
dave/Flickr
Why yes, we’ll have a carne asada, taco al pastor, and a taco de camarones, thank you very much!
Rick Fogerty (aka Cowboy Rick)/Flickr
The ball lights up the Dallas skyline every evening, creatively sparkles, and sometimes even shoots out fireworks, depending on what is being celebrated across Big D.
jeffreyw/Flickr
Bring on the freshly-cut and oh-so-hot jalapeños, and don’t forget the fire-breathing salsa! We like our wings hot too, by the way.
Bill Lile/Flickr
It’s tricky enough finding the right terminal, but knowing which exit to take for which way to head in terms of Dallas, Fort Worth, or Arlington takes skill, even if you’ve lived here for a while.
Nathan Rupert/Flickr
We may deny it, but a photo most likely exists… somewhere…
katespace/Flickr
True North Texans never underestimate the power… and potential devastation… of a tornado. Our cities have all been impacted by them, so expect us to be on the look out for twisters every “tornado season,” regardless of where we live.
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr
Bacon-wrapped, fresh jalapeño stuffed poppers, anyone? Of course, our steaks are legendary as well.
Korz 19/Flickr
Regardless of whether we know truly how to do a two-step, shuffle, or Texas waltz, everyone knows this silly line dance. Most of us learned it in elementary school from our physical education teacher, usually during a gym fun day.
rockYOface/Flickr
Sure, we’ll eat salmon or tilapia, but there are times when nothing but a deep fat fried helping of this Southern favorite will do.
Christopher/Flickr
It’s rare that it’s actually cold enough for a long stretch of time in North Texas to command a coat. More likely, you’ll find us traipsing around in shorts and bare feet in the winter months.
protoflux/Flickr
Whether it’s a Texas waffle, a state brand to imprint on our steak, Texas muffins, or even a Texas-shaped poached egg, we are pretty proud of our state’s shape. For some strange reason, that translated into whatever we cook.
Tony Swartz/Flickr
It’s nothing to spend the summer with temperatures above 100 degrees, and sometimes they are extreme enough to reach the upper limits of tolerability, so don’t complain to us when temperatures elsewhere hit the 90s. That’s a cool summer breeze for folks around here.
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