1. Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits.
Best when paired with Dr. Pepper. And ok, so maybe you can get them in a *few* places besides Texas, but there are 40 Whataburger-deprived states.
2. Those Taco Taco tortillas.
With a glass of their lemonade.
3. Sunsets that go on forever.
4. And ever.
5. And ever.
6. Those long, open roads.*
*As long as there's no traffic.
7. Local brews in the backyard.
And because it's Texas, it's almost always warm enough to drink beer on your back porch.
8. Not to mention the local wines.
9. The grocery store that has everything you could ever want.
HEB, NYC DESPERATELY NEEDS YOU.
10. And its fancy pants big sister, Central Market.
11. The movie theater that serves you beer and fresh popcorn.
And that doesn't let people text through the whole damn thing.
12. Dance halls where you can two-step to live music.
13. Tubing down the Comal.
(What you don't miss? That particular sunburn you get on the top of your calves.)
14. The bathrooms and the snack selection at Buc-ees.
It's an oasis on those long stretches of Texas freeway.
15. People who don't give you a weird look when you say "y'all."
16. Your yearly bluebonnet photo session.
17. Your yearly bluebonnet photo session with your pets.
Because sometimes you need an excuse to go see the beautiful flowers a second time.
18. The view from the top of Enchanted Rock.
And climbing it late in the season, when almost no one else is there.
19. The taste of these guys as they melt in your mouth.
Especially when they're still a little warm.
20. And the smell of fresh breakfast kolaches.
21. Eating the only kind of barbecue that counts.
That beautiful Texas/German tradition.
22. That deep chill you feel floating in Barton Springs.
23. The blissful warmth of Texas summer sun on your skin.
(But please wear sunscreen.)