Observations on a Texas town

I’ve just arrived in Austin, Texas, and already things are getting interesting. First, one of my bags was lost by the airline. Fortunately, it was not my main suitcase, but aggravating nonetheless. And, American Airlines did deliver it to the hotel late in the day. No harm, no foul.

Now, here’s the really interesting stuff. In no particular order, my cab driver filled me in on the following:

• Lee Harvey Oswald
• The Chainsaw Massacre
• The Mansion
• South Texas politics

Lee Harvey Oswald – it kind of jumps out at you. Here’s the deal. According to the talkative cabbie – who had a sign hanging from the mirror saying, “Work like the Devil” – Oswald’s daughter works as a waitress at a local Mexican joint. As we drove by, he marveled at the irony of such an historic figure (once removed) working in the Texas state capital. After all, John Connelly spent considerable time here, before he was shot and wounded by Oswald during the Kennedy assassination (that is, unless you subscribe to conspiracy theories. Then you’re on your own.)

My hotel has the enticing name The Mansion at Judge’s Hill. Seems harmless enough. But my cabbie, whose name escapes me, proceeded to tell me the building once was a hoity-toity dry-out facility for the well-heeled Texas drunk. And, if that weren’t enough, he said a ghost or two has been known to wander about, presumably trying to shake the late-night withdrawal tremors. If the ghost does pay a call tonight, hopefully he or she has his own key to the mini-bar.

As for the Chainsaw Massacre, well, it’s capitalized because my chatty cabbie was talking about the horror film, shot here in Austin. And, he said he worked on the crew, before deciding to go in front of the camera to pursue an acting career – his driving a cab lo these many years later, notwithstanding.

As for the politics, he said the locals tend toward a “live and let live” attitude, tolerant of gay marriage, etc. I find that interesting, given the general political nature and reputation of Texas. The presence of the University of Texas has much to do with this, I presume.

Before dropping me at the hotel, the cab driver left me with this gem: “I tell people that I have a conservative skeleton, but liberal flesh. And the flesh usually wins.”

Time to strap in boys, this could get interesting!