Let鈥檚 talk about Texas this week dear diary. I know that鈥檚 top of your list too.聽
This state now has an 鈥渙pen carry鈥� law regarding guns. That means pretty well anyone over the age of four can carry and use these weapons when they feel they need to. I know, I鈥檓 interpreting rather loosely, but I do that on a regular basis don鈥檛 I?聽
The new law has made even a few Texans a little nervous, especially those on university campuses.聽
Texas university professors and lecturers were being tutored last week about the nuances of the new law. They were being told it might not be a great idea to provoke the students attending their lectures. They needed to go easy on them.聽
Funny thing here, I thought one of the most important duties of a professor was to provoke students. Isn鈥檛 that the mandate? Raise the question, challenge them, urge them to think about alternate solutions, open their minds to options, debate the issues and concepts and then have them turn in brilliant eye-opening papers that would earn them a B+ and one credit toward a degree.聽
But no, not in Texas because the fear of a gun-totting 20-year-old in the third row who doesn鈥檛 like what the prof is saying, just might lead to some holster-clearing action that erupts into Chapter 11 of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.聽
So don鈥檛 anger up the students Ms. Professor unless you鈥檙e ready to exchange gunfire.聽
As it was noted in a Sports Illustrated article on rugby, a few months back when one English wag told an American rugby fan, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not your rugby playing that makes you the laughingstock, it鈥檚 your guns.鈥澛�
Then there is the good Texas.聽
I read where seven friends in the Lone Star state were determined to keep their school years friendship intact, just because they liked one another and hated to see childhood friendships get lost in the shuffle of growing up.聽
They bought a tract of land, in Texas of course, and 10 common acres I guess, near nowheresville.聽
They built four tiny 350 square foot galvanized cabins, because they didn鈥檛 like the idea of hauling and circling trailers.聽
They agree to meet there at least once a year, every July 4, but also often plan get-togethers at Christmas and a couple of other 鈥渇or sure鈥� dates. Spouses and friends are welcomed.聽
These friends are now in their mid-to-late 50s. They still get a kick out of the idea and enjoy each other鈥檚 company. They know their friends鈥� personalities, their quirks and strong points, and move along accordingly.聽
The tiny galvanized cabins, which were pictured in the article, remain simple and pretty well untouched except for required maintenance. After all, they are there for the friendships, not to build Valhalla. They are cleaned and appreciated as is the common property that gets tended to as required, I presume. Nothing special it seems, no work schedule, just do what you do when you care to do it. Grow a garden or not, who cares, we鈥檙e here for the laughs and the friendship. When they need to get away to contemplate or pout awhile, there are those tiny cabins and, one, two, three or six friends available to help them.聽
It鈥檚 worked for them and maybe its because they鈥檙e Texans and we know that Texans are big, bold, warm-hearted people who, on occasion, might want to shoot you. Just depends on the weather, maybe?
By the way, I鈥檝e never ventured into Texas and I don鈥檛 own a gun so I don鈥檛 belong there. 聽
