1. Having a college team. And really bleeding for it.
2. Chick-Fil-a everywhere.
3. Going ‘driving’ with no destination but Braum’s and back home.
4. Eating without judgement. Things like lamb fries at the state fair*, smoked fried chicken from a food truck in the hood, and massive chili cheese burgers with a milkshake.
5. The sound of locusts in the trees during the summer.
6. The independence of the Cowboy spirit. The Americana of Country music.
7. One tank of gas lasting forever because the land is flat for miles.
8. Being tough and unafraid of puttin’ some elbow grease into somethin’ to git ‘er done.
9. Businesses that still close on Sunday because customers (and employees) should be with familiy.
10. Watching Gary England warn his audience of dark, heavy clouds as a prelude to the destructive winds of a tornado–with the front door open, looking out to see if the storm will hit at 6:17 p.m.**
11. Those old, gravel roads in the country. Where cows and horses roam on acres of farmland, carved out from short trees and shrubery. Where a country girl’ll get out and walk barefoot in the middle of July. Where you can see every star in the sky, uninterrupted, on a clear night. Where I come from. Home.

*What are lamb fries?
**This is totally unsafe, and don’t do it. Most people I know (myself included) do this, though.