HOWDY BOYS AND GIRLS,
I AM LANCE'S AUNT RITA FROM MANVEL, TX. I AM SO GLAD YOU CHOSE ME TO BE A PEN PAL.
TEXAS GOT ITS NAME FROM THE MEXICAN WORD "TEJAS" WHICH MEANS FRIENDLY. OUR STATE FLAG IS
RED, WHITE AND BLUE WITH ONE SINGLE STAR AND WE ARE CALLED "THE LONE STAR STATE". THE
STATE FLOWER IS A BLUEBONNET THAT GROWS WILD IN FIELDS AROUND OUR STATE. THE
MOCKINGBIRD IS THE STATE BIRD AND IS VERY PROTECTIVE OF ITS NEST. THEY MAY JUST SWOOP DOWN
AND NIP YOU ON THE HEAD IF YOU GET TOO CLOSE. PECAN TREES ARE ABUNDANT HERE AND WERE
PLANTED BY SAM HOUSTON AND HIS TROOPS IN ORDER TO MAKE IT OUR STATE TREE.
TEXAS HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT POINTS OF INTEREST. WE HAVE THE SPACE CRAFT CENTER IN NAUSSAU
BAY. HERE YOU CAN SEE THE SPACE SHIP THAT WENT TO THE MOON, SAMPLES OF THE FOOD THE
ASTRONAUTS ATE IN SPACE, YOU CAN EVEN GO INSIDE A MODEL AND PRETEND TO BE AN ASTRONAUT.
THE PORT OF HOUSTON IS A BIG SHIP CHANNEL WITH SHIPS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD BRINGING IN
IMPORTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. IT IS FUN TO SIT ON THE SHORE , WATCH THE SHIPS AND WONDER
WHAT COUNTRY THEY ARE FROM. SOMETIMES YOU CAN TELL BY THE FLAG THEY FLY.
GALVESTON WAS A BEAUTIFUL BEACH AND A FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT, HURRICANE IKE HIT THERE LAST
SEPTEMBER AND DESTROYED A LOT OF THE BEAUTY. SCHOOL GROUPS HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL BY
DONATING THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO CLEAN UP DEBRIS. I HOPE IT WILL SOON BE RESTORED TO ITS
OLD SELF.
RELIENT CENTER IS THE NEW HOME FOR OUR SPORTS, RODEO AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS. THE ROOF
OF THE ARENA FOLDS OUT AND MAKES IT AN OPEN ARENA ON PRETTY DAYS. RIGHT NOW THEY ARE
HOSTING THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW, BAR B QUE AND RODEO. THERE IS A BIRTHING CENTER
WHERE YOU CAN SEE BABY ANIMALS JUST BORN OR BEING BORN. IT IS SO NEAT TO SEE A BABY CHICK
COME OUT OF AN EGG. I READ ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT IN YOUR
CLASSROOM SOON. THEY ALSO SERVE WEIRD FOODS LIKE FRIED OREOS, CHEESECAKE AND TWINKIES. I
LIKE THE FUNNEL CAKES THAT ARE FRIED DOUGH AND LOOK LIKE BIG LACE COOKIES DUSTED WITH
POWDERED SUGAR. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!
TEXAS USED TO BE THE BIGGEST STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, BUT NOW IT IS ALASKA. TEXAS WAS
ADMITTED TO THE UNION IN 1845 AND WAS THE 28 TH STATE. WE HAVE HILLS, DESERTS, BEACHES,
MARSH LANDS, AND FORESTS MAKING IT A STATE WITH MANY THINGS TO SEE AND DO.
IN SAN ANTONIO YOU CAN VISIT THE ALAMO WHERE DAVY CROCKETT, DANIEL BOONE AND OTHER BRAVE
MEN LOST THE BATTLE WITH MEXICO AND WERE ALL KILLED. THEY WERE ATTACKED BY A LARGE ARMY
LED BY SANTA ANNA AND WERE NOT ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN THE DEADLY FIGHT. THE ALAMO
IS STILL STANDING AND IT IS HUMBLING TO WALK THROUGH THE ROOMS AND IMAGINE WHAT WENT ON
THAT DAY. IF YOU GO TO SAN ANTONIO BE SURE TO RIDE THE RIVERBOAT, AT NIGHT IT IS SO PRETTY
WHEN LIT UP AND THERE ARE MANY GOOD RESTRUANTS ALONG THE RIVERWALK TO SATISFY YOUR
MANY CRAVINGS.
I AM SURE I HAVEN'T COVERED EVERYTHING THERE IS ABOUT TEXAS, BUT I WOULD HOPE THAT EACH OF
YOU WOULD GET TO VISIT HERE SOON AND SEE SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE DISCUSSED. I HOPE YOU
ENJOY THE POSTCARDS, SOUVENIRS, AND MAPS I AM SENDING YOU.
THANKS AGAIN FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE YOUR PEN PAL FROM MANVEL, TX. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND
ENJOY YOUR TRAVELS THROUGH THE UNITED STATES.
SINCERELY,
AUNT RITA
MARCH 11, 2009
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