My Love for Texas: A Look Back at its Beauty

I recently wrote a blog on living in South Carolina, The Palmetto State, for 21 years of my life.  I added that I would follow up with a blog about the 9 years I lived in Texas, during the 1980s and early 1990s.  In some ways, Texas (The Lone Star State) was the place where the Lord planted me, allowed me to mature some, and prepared me for the next steps in my life. I will forever have many special places in my heart for Texas and its people and places after living there for the 9 years.

 Here are my Top 10 Reasons I love Texas:

1    Spiritual Rebirth.  My spiritual rebirth happened at Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo, Texas in 1982.  

      San Angelo is in the heart of west Texas, southwest of Fort Worth and northwest of San Antonio.  It has roadrunners, tumbleweed, snow and ice in the winter and strong heat in the summer.  Most of all it will be the place where I look back and see where my life was forever changed during the 6 months I lived there in 1982.  It is a spiritual marker of grand proportion for my life.

      Our daughter Heather was born in San Antonio at the UT Health Science Center/Bexar County Hospital.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  She is now 23.  Dr Higby was there and I cut the umbilical cord! 

      Big Bend National Park.  It has mountain peaks that hover at 7,800 (Chisos Mtns) and then drop down to about 1000 feet above sea level at the Rio Grande River.  There are evergreens at the top of the mountains and flora of great color amidst the dry desert in the lower levels.  By far my favorite national park that I have visited.   An amazing place that I highly recommend.  You can camp, raft the river and hike to your heart’s desire for miles and miles.

      The Houston Astrodome.  Been to a bunch of old Astros games in the famous Astrodome.  It was built in 1965.  If you have ever been to Houston you know why the Astrodome was built:  the heat and humidity are almost unbearable! 

      The Texas Hill Country.  The blue bonnets and Indian paintbrushes that bloom in March are spectacular.  Note picture above! 

      The Riverwalk in San Antonio.   It is no wider than most creeks in the north and south yet it is home to great food, entertainment and a short walk from the The Alamo.  The Mexican-American culture is dominant and so full of life and energy on the Riverwalk.

      Padre Island.  This is the beach and island that runs southward from Corpus Christi towards the southern Texas and Mexico border.  In the 1980s one was allowed to drive a car on the beach which was cool and fun to do.  The water is always warm and the beaches are huge. 

8    The People.  Actually, this should be higher than number 8.  I have often noticed and shared with others that Texans and South Carolinians are very similar:  Both are very proud of their state and its heritage.  Both tend to have a strong religious and spiritual fervor in its people.  Barbeque and the love for great food is well known for both.  Many residents in each state are very happy with where they live and seem to be content with never moving from it.  Finally, both are made up of some of the friendliest and kindest folk in the lower 48!

  

      The Military.  I was stationed at Lackland AFB (San Antonio), Goodfellow AFB (San Angelo) and then for most of my 4 years at Brooks AFB (San Antonio).  South Carolina was recently voted the most patriotic state and I would bet that Texas was right behind it.  There are military bases all over the state.

  

      Brookhill Baptist Church and Village Parkway Baptist Church.  Both are in San Antonio.  I made my adult profession of faith and received baptism by immersion in 1983 at Brookhill and then in 1991 I was licensed to the Gospel Ministry at Village Parkway.  Some deep spiritual experiences and some religious mile markers that continue to define my life and allow me to anchor back to two important spiritual events in my life. 

An Adopted Son of the Palmetto State

An Adopted Son of the Palmetto State

  

My parents are George J. Rossi and Marjorie B. Gretz.   Dad died in October 2013 and mom is doing fairly well living in the suburban Philadelphia town of Willow Grove.  I have lived in South Carolina since 1993 when I accepted a call as associate pastor to Oakbrook Baptist Church in Summerville.   I have lived in the Palmetto State since then except for a brief church call to Dallas Baptist for about 16 months in Dallas, North Carolina which is about 35 miles west of Charlotte. 

I have used the phrase, “An Adopted Son of South Carolina,” to describe myself because it feels like I am one, i.e. A South Carolinian, and my roots run deep down into this 8^th state to be ratified of the original Colonies.  South Carolina is a gem and this is home.  I feel like the good LORD brought me here and I have loved living here.  We lived on the coastal plain in Summerville for almost 5 years and now Columbia (Irmo) since 1999.  That would be a total of 21 years.  That is 6 more years than the 15 I lived in King of Prussia, in suburban Philadelphia.  The first three years were spent in Flushing (Queens), NYC near my paternal grandparents.   My 9 years in Texas and my love for the Lone Star State will have to wait on a follow up blog! 

What makes South Carolina so awesome?   Here would be my top 10.

The People.  They are down home, kind, welcoming, and friendly. 

The Weather.  Six months of spectacular weather happens from March to May and then September to November.  The three months in the summer can be blistering hot.  The winters are mild with an annual snow or ice storm or two.  Overall, it is sun, sun and sun and an occasional thunderstorm.

The Spiritual and Religious Perspective.  This place is full of churches and many of the people are full of deep faith, trust and commitment rooted in a covenant love with God.    It’s not uncommon to be asked, “Where do you go to church?”

The Beach.  The long coast and water of South Carolina are absolutely beautiful--first Charleston and then the Grand Strand/Myrtle Beach to the north and then the Low country and Beaufort to the south.  The water is usually warm and the shrimp and fish are abundant.

College Football.  The USC Gamecocks, Coastal Carolina, and Wofford; my three favorites.

The Military.  South Carolina is home to Fort Jackson (Columbia), Shaw AFB (Sumter), Charleston AFB, Marine Recruit Station Parris Island, and the Marine Corp Air Station Beaufort and others.  This is one proud state, with the colors red, white and blue all over it! 

A deep love for history.   A love for Revolutionary War history and Civil War history.  An ability to honor the rights and liberties of ALL people.  The ability to find common ground and the deeply held values that all people are created equal and have the same rights. 

The Lakes.  Lake Murray is simply big and beautiful, and so are the Santee Cooper Lakes of Marion and Moultrie down near Charleston.  There are other lakes in the state such as Wateree, Monticello, Keowee, Hartwell, Greenwood, Thurmond, and Wylie to name the big ones.  There is water and fishing everywhere.

It’s Location.  It is in the heart of the South.  Not too far from Atlanta when needed and not too far from the Metropolitan northeast corridor when one needs to travel. 

It’s a Great Place to Raise a Family.  This may be the most important.  I believe my family loves SC about as much as me and on top of that my oldest daughter married a young man from Columbia/Irmo and we are so glad she did.    It’s a blessing to live, work and worship in South Carolina and I am blessed to consider myself An Adopted Son of the Palmetto State!