I didn’t attend Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, but a good many of my childhood friends are alumni of that institution. I grew up about 60 miles from Lubbock, and we followed the Red Raiders religiously. In fact, for my 16th birthday gift all I asked for was a date with my daddy to a Red Raiders football game. That date remains one of my best memories of all time.
Today I drove into Tallahassee for a solo lunch while Studly played golf. I was in line to order at Firehouse Subs when I realized the guy in front of me had on a red polo shirt with Texas Tech stitched on the back of the shirt in black. I did a double take and then tapped him on the shoulder.
“I like your shirt,” I said. “What’s your connection to Tech?”
Well that started a whole conversation with the man, his wife, and kids. They live in Alabama now, but he and his wife met at Texas Tech and are still rabid fans. They invited me to sit with them for lunch and I had such a great time. We threw out names of people from the Lubbock area, but never found anyone we knew in common. They both knew where my hometown of Floydada was which made me grin like an idiot.
The family was headed to DisneyWorld in Orlando, and as soon as we finished our lunch I wished them safe travels and we went our separate ways. That little connection made my day, though. Is that weird? Am I that desperate for conversation?
Discuss and talk to me. Apparently I need to connect.
Peace, people!
Praying for Eyebrowz 
My human’s nephew went to Tech, and that is where he met his wife. I guess there is a secret love potion in the water there.
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Wow! That’s cool. The water there must be magical.
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Desperate? Not at all. You have an infinite interest in the world xxxxxxx
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As long as I’ve been away from that dry old dusty Texas panhandle, it’s still home I guess.
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I mind reading a wonderful book about the panhandle when I was wee . xxxxxxxx
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There’s a very good nonfiction book about the dust bowl years that is set in the towns I grew up in and around. It’s called The Worst Hard Time.
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Not desperate for conversation—just happy for “belonging” and connecting. Happy to find something uplifting and good, and happy to find validation that your memories are still alive and shared! I love that this happened for you, what a blessing for the day. It’s one of the universes random acts of kindness.
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I love your thinking!
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in this world it is nice to just meet and connect with nice people…it seems to be becoming harder to do, but when you do, it brings joy into your life, even if only for a fraction of time. You may never see them again, but that connection will leave a lasting memory. I love those
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You’re right. The world has gotten so crazy that we need these connections.
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I met my husband at Tech. We’ve been married now for sixteen years and travel a bit. Any time we’re traveling and we see any kind of Red Raider gear we go greet those people because of the camaraderie, I suppose. You can’t go wrong with Texas Tech folks. Wreck ‘Em!
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So excited to see them in the Elite 8! Thanks for stopping by!
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Not desperate! Anytime you can connect with someone near your childhood hometown, it’s refreshing and takes you back to a time in your memory bank. When we went to Montana, the couple staying in the room on our floor was from Odessa, FL. Not far from where my daughter lives. We talked about one of our favorite Florida State Parks called Honeymoon Island in Dunedin which all of us enjoy. It’s great to meet new people that share things in common with other folks, especially when one party or the other is outside their element.
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That’s so cool! And I’ve never been to that state park!
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It’s where one of the largest osprey rookeries is. Near Clearwater.
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