Small Town Texas

I have a story to share, but first I must give you a little background on small towns in Texas. If you have not seen "Greater Tuna," the original players, then you need to buy a copy on line. Tuna is a fictional town in Texas, but it’s characters include someone you know or will know in your life. My favorite character in the play is Didi Snavely. Didi owns "Didi’s Used Weapons" where the moto is, "If Didi can’t kill it, it’s immortal."

The play has only two actors that play all the parts. Costume changes are so fast you won’t believe them. I know I was amazed the first time I saw the play. And, the characters have different voices and personalities that are hilarious. The last time I saw it live, we had center front row balcony seats, and I noticed an older lady sitting on the front row, stage right. She laughed so hard that she fell out of her seat and got down on the floor still laughing. I told you, the characters will define people you know or introduce you to the mind set that lives in parts of Texas.

Now, I’ve said all that to tell my story. Back in the day when professional people wore suits and ties, not cargo shorts and flip flops like they do today, one of my co-workers and I had to make a trip to a little town in West Texas. We had an eight o’clock meeting with some community services leaders. Because it was a long drive from Dallas, we had to go the day before and spend the night.

There was only one motel in the town. It had a swimming pool, with about 6 inches of green slime on the bottom - that’s all, no water, just slime. And, I must say that this was my first and last time to check in and the clerk that gave me a fly swatter for the room. Are you getting the picture?

The next morning, my co-worker and I went across the parking lot to the only café for breakfast. When we walked in, a tall skinny white guy in a black suit with tie, and a not as tall, skinny black guy in a black suit with tie, everybody turned to stare at us. And, they kept on staring at us. Heaven only knows what they were thinking or whispering to each other.

The guy at the cash register got on the phone for just a moment or two. Within minutes, two Texas State Troopers came in the door and took a table near us. I am not making this up. They greeted several people and turned to give us a good looking over. About this time, my co-worker and I begin to feel a little out of place - a lot out of place. He could barely eat his breakfast, which wasn’t bad.

We finished our meal as quickly as we could, paid our check and while he waited at the door, I walked over to the two troopers. I told them who we were and what we were doing in town. And, I asked them if they knew some State Trooper friends of mine. They did know one. That seemed to make things better.

We went back to the motel and checked out to get to our meeting. I wanted to take the fly swatter with me, but I left it in the room.

Little towns in Texas are sometimes living in a world of their own. Like where we live in East Texas now.

Maybe you need to watch "Greater Tuna" to get the full effect of what I’m talking about.

PMO
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