G.T.T.

In times past, people would leave their old lives and leave notes which simply read “G.T.T.” and their loved ones knew…they’d Gone To Texas.  Well, so have we.

We were chased out of town last Tuesday by the awful tornadoes which decimated so many.  They were a blessing to me.  Just as I was beginning to get weepy over leaving home, my friend Peace called to say “It’s headed right for you.  Get to cover or get out.  You have about 30 minutes.”  With no time for long last looks or tearful goodbyes, we threw the last of our suitcases in the car and left home for the last time.

We spent our last night in Oklahoma at our beloved Oma and Opa’s house.  Wednesday morning we left for Texas.  By Thursday night, we were sleeping in our own beds and doing our best to ignore the strangeness of our surroundings.  It wasn’t that hard as we were all so tired.

So…..here we are in Texas, all but my husband who will join us this week.  We’re finding our way around and figuring out how to get to where we need to be.  It doesn’t feel like home yet but it will.  Today I got home from the grocery store without the GPS and only took one wrong turn.  If you could see the maze that is our neighborhood, you’d know what an accomplishment that is.

Dallas people aren’t as friendly as the Okies we left behind.  It’s not Texans, but big city folks, I think.  I miss the friendly.  I especially missed it this morning at Mass when no one said hello or even smiled in our direction.  I told my eldest that that “never would have happened at our church back home.”  She smiled and said “That’s because you were the person who always told new people hello.”

That’s who I need to be here, I think.  I need to be the person who says hello.  I need to be the person who walks up to the clumps of talking people and introduces myself to them all.  What I wouldn’t give for a friendly glance or a welcoming smile, some indication that such overtures would be welcome.  I’ve never been a wallflower, but it’s rare that I’ve met such an unwelcoming crowd….but then again I was on my own home turf so it was easier to be bold and friendly.

Who knew that I would ever need help talking to strangers?  I keep trying to be nice and they keep looking at me like a 3 headed monster.  Where is the vaunted Texas hospitality?  I’m still looking for it.  I know it’s here somewhere.

Someone I love likes to say that you only need one good friend and to just pray that God will bring you the one that you need.  Last time I did, I ended up on my neighbor’s porch ordering her to come to lunch and so began a great friendship.  I need a crazy lady to show up out of nowhere, God.  Can you send just one loony my way?  thanks.