The Texas Chapter

I’ve been to Texas two times, the first time in San Antonio and the second in Arlington.

I travelled to San Antonio with my family by car, and it was about a twenty-hour drive. It wasn’t ideal, but it worked out in the end, and we got to experience a long car ride together as a family. We got to see a lot along the way, especially on the way back.

I remember the river walk and how it felt like being transported to a different city when we walked through it. It was cool to shop and eat there, especially when the sunlight trickled through the trees and made the river sparkle.

I learned a little about the city’s history, especially the meaning behind the cry, “Remember the Alamo”. There was a significant blend of cultures with Mexican, German, and Spanish influence evident in their architecture, music, arts, and cuisine. We went during spring break, and the weather was nice. A little hot, but back home in Illinois, it’d been cold and we were recovering from the snow, so I wasn’t complaining.

The second time, I went to Arlington to perform at AT&T Stadium for the Cotton Bowl with my college marching band. It’s so crazy that music has brought me this far, and if you told high school me I would be standing on the same field as the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, I would’ve lost it.

Playing pregame with my college marching band at the Cotton Bowl is a memory I often revisit. I remember the stress of the moments before we took the field, sweating from my hat to my triple-tied marching shoes. Stepping onto the field, I took in the sights of the packed stadium, filled with fans from both teams. Knowing my family was out there somewhere cheering me on filled my heart. I felt so small, but I looked to my friends beside me, and we shared a laugh. Then the whistles blew, and I fell into step with the rest of the band. Playing my school song at that stadium, representing the university hundreds of miles from home, filled me with a sense of pride that fueled my passion.

I tried Whataburger for the first time and fell in LOVE with it. Everything in Texas is bigger, including the burger I ordered. I loved their spicy ketchup, and I usually don’t like many sauces. The closest Whataburger is in Kansas City, Missouri, and I only know that because my lovely roommate’s mom brought me some when I stayed over at their house (I nearly cried).

And what’s a Texas trip without stopping at a Buc-ee’s, one of the most magical places in the world? The Buc-ee's was infested with hundreds of college band students, which is funny to think about looking back. I wandered around, bought some merch, took lots of photos, and waved to the beacon of light before we headed out.

The trips were fun in their own ways, and I'm glad I got to see such different parts of Texas.

San Antonio

Arlington