Bubba’s 33, Barstools, BB Guns, Barn Parties, and Boots
An immigrant’s experiences through Americana
Continuing on from JoAnn Ryan’s A-Z In Living Color challenge, let’s jump out of the way-back machine and grab a tractor to the back roads of Texas.
Bubba’s 33
I discovered Bubba’s 33 on a road trip to Odessa, Texas. It came out of nowhere — a complete surprise. My ex and I were looking for a place to eat whilst visiting her wicked stepmother and bam! There it was, like a little beacon in the dark that catered to both our tastes. A roadhouse extraordinaire “deep in the heart of Texas!” *clap, clap, clap, clap*
On our return to San Antonio, we found that there were two Bubba’s in the city and made them a regular haunt. Plus, they served the largest margaritas I’d ever seen… pretty good ones too!
Plenty of screens for football, excellent pizza, domestic beer, and margaritas… what more could you want in the great state of Texas?
Barstools
Sitting on a barstool at the counter is a storied American tradition. Chat up the friendly bartender whilst nursing a heartache with an alcoholic beverage as you watch the game and you have a great country song.
Barstools are not a part of my history and whilst they exist in countries I’ve lived in before, I’d never actually sat in one whilst having a drink or a meal. Since moving to North America, I’ve added myself to the barstool club. The ones that can be found in every Bubba’s 33 (pictured above) can’t be beat!
Whilst I still enjoy a good corner booth, another of the American storied traditions, sometimes there’s nothing like a good barstool.
BB Guns
I’m a pacifist — plain and simple. A vegetarian, yoga-practising, namaste-saying pacifist.
I grew up in one of the most violent countries in the world and my father taught me to shoot a gun when I was fourteen to ensure that I could defend myself if our home was invaded whilst I was alone. I don’t like guns, they make me extremely uncomfortable and I know the damage that a simple trigger can do.
Having said that, if you thought I wasn’t going to try and shoot empty beer cans off a milk crate with a BB gun on a ranch in South Texas, you’ve lost your last marble!
This I had to try!
Barn Parties
Yes ma’am, this is indeed a thing!
Allow me to illuminate.
When a new barn is built — grant it in the wealthier sector of country communities— they christen it with a barn party. Everyone comes on down with an offering of food and y’all stand around in the new barn oohing and aahing at the fabulous job and decorative touches of the new addition to the property.
A little music plays, maybe a dance or two, and deviled eggs… there has to be deviled eggs!
Boots
Row and rows of cowboy boots. Now that’s heaven right there!
My mother can spend hours wandering through stacks of books in a bookstore, but I can spend hours looking at the beauty and intricacy of a rows and rows of cowboy boots. They capture me and I have a pair that remain my favourite item of footwear to this day.
I’ve stomped around the world in my brown boots with the teal trim. Gotta get back and get another pair!
There are many more things that I experience in my Southern adventures but not all of them begin with the letter “B.”
If you enjoyed my wander through Southern Americana, please have a read through some of my other (mis)adventures deep in the heart of Texas *clap, clap, clap, clap*.
