Above: Detail from one of the hand-painted tanks at “Carl’s Corner,”a truck stop that sells biodiesel fuel in Texas, on Interstate 35
between Dallas and Waco. Carl (Cornelius) himself is a friend
of Willie Nelson, who first persuaded him to convert to biodiesel
rather than selling his business and retiring.
"We want to create an alternate fuel city,” says Carl now.
“Wind power, diesel power, solar power, soybeans, sunflower seeds,
mustard seeds -- all kinds of alternate fuels."
Listening to NPR this morning ... yes, I'm one of those people who wakes up to NPR! It's idling-engine speed is just right for me, to carry me out of wherever it is I've been while I was sleeping as I amble towards the kitchen to perform the kettle / water / cup / filter / coffee (very strong) ritual, and thence to my minimalist breakfast, maximalist shower, and the official start of my day.
Ahem.
Listening to NPR this morning, I was reminded how my brother Bill takes every opportunity to make people aware that George W. is NOT -- repeat, NOT -- a Texan. A wannabe, maybe -- imported from Connecticut at a vulnreable age and suffering from massive inferiority complex ever since -- but the man is not a Texan.
My brother is. I am too, deep down in my heart -- a fact that generally escapes people's notice till they get to know me. So is Ann Richards, a Texan. (God, I hope I have that woman's wrinkles when I'm her age, they are magnificent.) The Dixie Chicks. Willie Nelson -- he's got good wrinkles too. Kinky "Why the hell not?" Friedman, who's presently running as an Independent for governor on a "compassionate redneck" platform. Janis Joplin, Lyndon Baines Johnson ... and Billy Lee Brammer, his onetime press secretary, who afterwards wrote what most critics consider to be the only truly great American political novel, The Gay Place. (As in F. Scott Fitzgerald, not as in "we're here, we're queer.") Larry McMurtry, who I could go on and on about, and whose brilliant statement about what cowboys really represent I unfortunately can't locate right now.
Etcetera, on and on -- any Who's Who of Great American Eccentrics would have a disproportionate number of Texans on it, is my guess.
For the NPR story that provoked this sudden outburst of homesickness and Texan-identification, go here. The excuse for the story is biodiesel fuel -- who's behind it, selling it, how it's made, etc. It includes music, great characters, humor, a bit of science, and a charming drawl. The real story is about what lies deep in the heart of Texas. If we can ever rescue it from the trauma it's suffered at the hands of that Connecticut interloper and his pathetic toadies, and restore it to its rightful place, the healing of the entire "heartland" will surely follow close behind.
I'll be back.
3 comments:
Don't get too over excited about Kinky's status as an "Independent" candidate.
Some liberals support Kinky as a result of his views on biodiesel (Bell and Strayhorn spout the same nonsense) and his support for gay marriage (but keep in mind that the issue was on the ballot here in Texas and Kinky didn't vote to allow gay marriage), but there aren't too many liberals here in Texas (or hadn't you noticed) so Kinky needs to get the word out that he's got lots to offer Texas Republican voters.
Here's my official list of 10 reasons Texas Republicans should vote for Kinky (I stole this list from a whiney liberal, but I fixed it to take out the whining):
(1) Kinky has run for office in the past as a Republican,
(2) Kinky voted for Bush/Cheney in 2004,
(3) Kinky's interview with Ruminator magazine confirms that he supported Bush's Middle East foreign policy,
4) Kinky's public voting records confirm he was mistaken when he said he voted for Gore in 2000, <
(5) Kinky hasn't voted for a Democrat in any election at least from 1994 to 2004,
(6) Kinky wants to take time during the school day for prayers in schools,
(7) Kinky wants to post the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms,
(8) Kinky is not obsessed with political correctness,
(9) Kinky knows how to deal with illegal aliens from Mexico, and
(10) Kinky’s immigration policy of hiring Mexican generals to police our border is a great idea that John McCain has endorsed.
Wow! That was fast, I haven't even managed yet to solve the problem that I can't get the picture that's supposed to be at the top to show. (The "help" desk is working on it.)
I understand that Kinky is... what to say, Kinky! A mixed bag at best. But then, one of the things that makes Texas so unique is that the sky is big enough to contain all contradictions. Thanks for all the links - and personally I think political correctness is very often overrated. At some point we have to acknowledge the lessons, move along and leave all this deadly seriousness behind.
I'm with you, Sarito. Four years at a small liberal arts college and two years of grad school have totally robbed me of my sense of humor, and this is just compounded by the fact that we have a president who's worse than Warren G. Harding. Laughing might be one of those activities that we'll have to relearn.
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