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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The Good Life

Dearest Reader, I must confess I am home sick.  Do not get me wrong, I love my adopted state of Texas. I've lived in Texas for over 12 years and I can't imagine living anywhere else.  Despite my love for Texas, my heart yearns for The Good Life, life in Nebraska.  Before you think I'm crazy, Nebraska is indeed the good life, it says so right on the sign.


In all seriousness, I do miss it.  No matter where life takes me, in my heart and soul, Nebraska is home. I miss the people.  Do you know what the finger wave is?  If you travel the back roads of Nebraska you do.  Imagine yourself on a two lane country road, much like the picture below.

When you come upon another vehicle, you life one of your index fingers at the other driver (index, not middle, we are talking about Nebraska, not New York).  This lifting of your index finger tells the other driver hello.  How nice is that?  Telling a complete stranger hello as you pass each other.

When you think of Nebraska, you may think of long boring stretches of road, maybe with a field of corn on either side.  If you have passed through Nebraska on I-80, yeah, it's pretty boring.  Nebraska can be breath taking, you just have to look for the beauty.

Nebraska Landscape
Scottbluff, NE
Chimney Rock
 
Another great thing about Nebraska is they aren't afraid to be different, to be pioneers. Did you know they are the only state in the Unicameral?  No need for two houses for this state, they can get legislation done with just one.  Did you know that Car-henge is in Nebraska?
 
Alliance, Nebraska
 In addition to Nebraska independent spirit, it is also home to amazing things like:

The Runza Sandwihch

Dorthy Lynch Salad dressing
Invented in Hastings, Nebraska by Edwin Perkins in 1927.
Now that you know a few awesome things about Nebraska, I know you can hardly wait to get there!  In all seriousness, it is a great place with wonderful museums (Like Pioneer Village in Minden and Stuhr Museum in Grand Island).  If you do go, make sure to also check out the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. You can see breath taking exhibits like

Until tomorrow  - Melissa

So that's what my heart looks like!



3 comments:

  1. I have mixed feelings about the great state of Nebraska myself. I worked in Omaha and had the best steak of my life on a riverboat next door in Council Bluff. I also had one of the best slices of pizza ever at a place called Mi Casa. Ah Neapolitan style pizzas are the best.

    I was there during the spring thaw and one day had to drive out into the middle of nowhere Nebraska. For several hours there was nothing but the smell of fresh thawed cow manure. So that is still my dominate recollection.

    And being kids of the 60's and 70's we had to go to the zoo and visit The Wild Kingdom exhibit.

    Also, you might want to get out a bit more, there are plenty of empty open places in Texas that are strikingly similar to the images posted here.

    I have never moved from my dear home state of Texas, though I have thought about it from time to time. In my travels I have been on the road for a few months at a time, and I have always wanted nothing more than to go home again.

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  2. Texas does indeed have some great landscapes. I love the trees you can find in east Texas and the hill country is breath taking. No worries, I will blog about the great state of Texas too!

    I know what you mean about the smell. My parents are high school sweethearts and both grandparents lived in Gibbon (near Kearney). They are known as Smile City. My cousins and I use to joke it was Smell City. Just keep in mind that smell is known as the smell of money there.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, I heard the same thing about it smelling like money in Amarillo.

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