How I Know I'm Back In Texas

I know I'm back in Texas because my mommy makes me my favorite dumpling knots to welcome me home - just about the only "real" Chinese food I will actually request and then devour.

  

 I know I'm back in Texas because I have a bajillion and twenty things to unpack, throw in the washing machine, and then organize into various parts of my room. (Also, I am extremely proud of the fact that I brought back home an entire hamper's-worth of dirty laundry for my parents to wash... I've always wanted a part in this particular college tradition.)

I know I'm back in Texas because I am reunited with my best friend Brina. I love my college friends more than life itself, but my friendship with Brina is just too unique and weird to be compared to any other friendship. It was so nice walking through a sketchy strip of town (ok, not really) and telling her every single story I could think of and hearing the blunt commentary only she could come up with. I'dCapThat has also become one of my absolute favorite apps... Its accuracy scares me sometimes. (See above.)

 

I know I'm back in Texas because I went to a crawfish boil, hands-down one of my FAVORITE things about the dirty South. Smokin' hot and satisfyingly salty crawfish with seasoned potatoes/corn on the cob/sausage... What on Earth could be better?

I know I'm back in Texas because almost exactly a year ago, we were at Meg's house celebrating her/our graduation with crawfish and cupcakes. At that time, we were saying goodbye to each other and to the life we knew. Yesterday, we were at Meg's house again eating crawfish and cupcakes, but this time, it was a reunion and we were saying hello. We've come full circle and it makes me unbelievably happy to see everyone so happy and content with college life.

I know I'm back in Texas because I am surrounded by such familiar faces who know me and love me. I have missed everybody oh-so-much and am so thrilled to get to spend three months with them before I go back to school and my other life and my other great group of amazing friends. How did I ever get so lucky in this lottery of life?