Language_Brownsville_KJ_07242024

Hello, this is [Interviewer]. Today is July 24 2024, and I am here in [COMMUNITY NAME] for an interview with one of our community members. Before we begin, I'd like to get verbal consent for the form that we went over. Could you please say I consent to being interviewed and audio recorded for this study

I consent to be interviewed? And for this audio interview, I consent yes,

Thank you. To get started. Can you tell me about how you came to live in this community?

I was born and raised in [COMMUNITY NAME]. I'm 68 years old. Much of my life, I spent it here, other than the years I spent in college

Yes. Thank you. Can you tell me a bit more about this community? And how would you describe it to someone who does not live here?

I think that [COMMUNITY NAME] is a community that has obviously grown. But when I was growing up, it was obviously a much smaller town. I think when people... what some people may not know about this town is that there is a very sense of uh, community in if uh, people if something happens in the community, a crisis or a tragedy or whatever. The community comes together. And I've seen that happen in some tragedies that we've had here. And I think that that's, I think that's one of the positive descriptions of [COMMUNITY NAME] is that community spirit and that team spirit and the friendliness and , uh, but it is it is a community that has grown a lot, you know, since since I grew up here, but I mean, you know, you could used to, when I was a kid used to be able, you could walk downtown [COMMUNITY NAME]. It was no big deal, you know, to do that, and now you just don't do that anymore[SMALL LAUGH]. So, but yeah, that's, that's how I would describe it. And obviously, in other ways that it's really has, I wouldn't say improved, but just a lot more opportunities here, you know, SpaceX, you know...., the young people that are opening up wonderful restaurants and so yeah, and, and then the other thing is that we, I think of all the cities in the [COMMUNITY REGION], we have a sense of history, and you just see it in the buildings here. And, and, and I think that's important. That's important part of [COMMUNITY NAME].

Thank you for sharing. How do you think this community has changed throughout your time living here? I know you kind of already expand-

Yeah, I sort of said already. But I mean, I think what has changed is more and more people are moving here. I mean, they're moving here for opportunities. You see a lot more people here now that, you know, when you look at them, you you just know that they're not from here, but that they've moved here. So, I mean, I think there's just been so many reasons for that. The university, you know, the increase in higher ed opportunities, and plus all the, you know, industrial slash economic stuff, like, yeah, like SPACEX, obviously. I mean, I hate to keep mentioning them. But yeah, yes

Thank you. What would you say are the strengths of this community?

I mean, I really think it's the that team, the team spirit. Um, Um, You know, that's, I think that's really the strengths of this community. And I think also that it's has a, even though it's grown, I mean, it has a sense of, it still has the feel of a small town, but you know, or the feel of when I grew up here, so. But I mean, so I think all those are kind of what makes this place so special. And of course, that we're close to Mexico, and, you know, we're not very far from the beach. So, you know-

Yeah, that's good. I agree. What would you say are some of the weaknesses of this community?

Um [PERIOD OF HESISTATION]. Well, I think one of the my, one of them is that, you know, we don't, I don't sometimes see a lot of it, [PERIOD OF HESISTATION,] you know, not opportunities, but like, I wish we had more flights out of here. Yes. You know, I mean, we have, I have...I don't mind going to [NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY NAME] If I have to go to [NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY NAME], I will, but I don't do it very often. But I just think if we had some more of those kinds of opportunities. And, and, and, I think sometimes, while I do talk about this team, community team spirit, sometimes you do see some of the divisions in the community. And it would kind of be nice if everybody worked together you know? And but, you know, I think we're making progress in those areas. But still, I'd like to see more of that. So I guess that's, I guess that would I mean, I mean, I remember people used to say, "oh, there's nothing to do here." And I hear it sometimes still. But they just I think that they don't know that there is stuff to do here. So yeah, now, so maybe the idea of maybe promoting a lot more of that, that good stuff that's happening here and making people feel like well, there is there are things to do here. There are so say

Thank you. Can you tell me about the roles and relationships you have in this community?

So I was born and raised here. Um, went to public school. Um, very proud that I was in the last class, of [COMMUNITY NAME] High School. And people always say, Oh, I didn't know there was a [COMMUNITY NAME] or high school. Yes, there was. And so the class of 1974 was the last class to bear that name. And then it became [HIGH SCHOOL NAME] , in the fall in. And so I'm very proud of that. But so I was, you know, I went off to college, and came home. And I was, I worked in television news, channel four, so I was a reporter. And I mean, I was there 17 years. So I did a whole bunch of stuff. But I would think that that's kind of a role I had in the community because I did cover the [NAME OF CITY NEWSPAPER]And then and then from there, I went to work at [LOCAL UNIVERISTY NAME] in communications, and I saw was very involved in, obviously, what was going on there. But also in the community. I mean, I've done I've been on boards and stuff like that. And but now I'm retired. And so I I edit a magazine called [MAGAZINE NAME]. And so we're always looking for ways to promote the [COMMUNITY REGION] promote [COMMUNITY NAME] And so um, you know, I think, and I serve on several boards today, so that's kind of my relationship to the community. I mean, and I was born and raised here. So I'm, I'm a [COMMUNITY NAME]-illian (like civilian, but with community name in front.), and as they say, I think that's what they call it.[LAUGHS]

Amazing. Thank you for sharing. Now, I'd like to talk more about your work in the past. And today. Could you tell me about how you got into the role that you're in today? I know you mentioned you're in a couple of boards, and also do [LOCAL MAGAZINE]

LOCAL MAGAZINE]. Yes. So [LOCAL MAGAZINE] is a magazine. It's all about local, local food, local nature, local community. And so that really came somewhat by accident. I mean, I was getting, I was getting ready to retire. And then COVID came and didn't retire. And then the publisher of the magazine grew up here too. And so, and I knew her as a child, I mean, she's much younger than me. And so she came home for for COVID right. And I was looking to move to Texas and move back to Texas. And, and it was just really a just a conversation about what was going on in the community. And then, you know, we always talked about food. And so I said, Well, you know, I said, I've always loved this magazine, I picked it up in [CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITY], [CENTRAL TEXAS MAGAZINE]. And I said, I've always thought it should be that you could do that in the [COMMUNITY REGION], because I think there's a lot of good stories out there. And and so then it was, you know, well, how do we do it? And then we just did it. And so we publi- we started publishing, um,um during COVID. I mean, in 2022 by the time we got it going and everything, but it just pause it for a second.

Yes, of course.[PAUSES AUDIO] The next question is, what is the typical workday look like for you? Or what's it like?

Well, since I'm retired, I don't have the eight to five ritual, you know, which I really don't miss either. But I'm in so not typical days. Just, I get up in the morning, you know, I go workout. And then I do then I spent a couple of hours on the magazine, because it's not only like right now we're working on the Fall issue. So we're on deadlines, but we're always planning for future issues. And we it's not only the magazine, but we do events, we do shoot events based around our issues. Yes. And so in that that's a that's What I spend some time on or then I spend time on all the other stuff that I do, like, on these boards, like I'm on the other [SCHOOL BOARD] And then and then I do a lot of work with [UNIVERSITY NAME] So I'm very involved in [UNIVERSITY NAME] and as an alum, and so I do that kind of work and and then we're planning our 50th high school reunion. So that takes a lot of work to right now. So it's a little bit of that. And then just and with the magazine, there's always people, we have to meet people, you have to call and you know, a lot of, so that takes up a lot of my time. So it's a little bit of all that, you know, and then, and at [UNIVERSITY NAME] , I'm on the I'm on the [UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NAME] and the [UNIVERSITY NAME] development boards. So those are, you know, those keep me busy. But, um, so that's kind of how I Yeah I've been involved in [UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOSIATION NAME] work since. Well, since I left I graduated 1978. So, I mean, we've been involved. I've been involved in that works since I came home to work here and in, you know, I'm ready to like, I think people should as an alum, I think you owe that to your school. So...

That's amazing. We appreciate it. Yeah, [REDACTED PERSONAL CONVERSATION] The next question would be What aspects of your job bring you the most joy or satisfaction?

I think in terms of the editing, the being the editor of the magazine, I think it's I'm meeting new people. And you know, you really meet people that have a passion for what they do, whether it's, whether it's cooking, whether it's birdwatching, caring about the environment. And so, I think, I think, not only meeting those people, but also you also learn from them. It's not you don't know. Sometimes you just don't know everything in the [COMMUNITY REGION], you know, you really don't, you learn new things about the [COMMUNITY REGION],. And so I think that's probably the most exciting, passionate part of the job. And, you know, people are beginning to know our magazine, and I think and so it's really nice to hear positive feedback. And so, yeah, so it's great.

Thank you for sharing, kind of, on the other side of things, what are the kind of what are the biggest challenges you face doing this?

Um, there's never enough time in the day, you know, to do to do that. And because, you know, and also the other things that I do, but you know, because you have to have a, I mean, I'm retired, so I have to have some time to, you know, decompress right, so and so it's a balance, and you know, I think I've figured out the balance. So yeah, that's kind of like the like when I get done. here, I'd have to go home and work on some copy. That's us. So, um, but yeah, I just mean, but I think that's for everybody. The balance of time and not enough time. There's never enough time and, and how to balance all that. I mean, I think that can apply to a student and to anybody really huge. I mean, you tend to I tend to juggle a lot.

Yes. So, thank you for sharing that. I'd like to talk more about your experience as a resident of this community. Okay, for each for this first set of questions. I'm going to read a statement to you. And I'd like you to indicate the extent for your agreement on each one. Okay. I'll have you give your answer on a scale of one to four where one is completely disagree, two is somewhat disagree, three is somewhat agree, and four is completely agree. If you'd like to comment or elaborate on any of the statements, please feel free to. The first phrase is "I consider myself to be American." Would you say? How would you rate that on a scale of one through four?

I completely agree.

Thank you. The next question is using the same scale, how would you rate the following statement? I consider myself to be a Texan.

I completely agree.

Which one of the following three statements do you agree with most strongly one, I am American first and Texan. Second, two, I am Texan first and American second or three, being Texan and American are equally important to me.

The three, three.

Thank you. The next phrase is "To be a true Texan. You must know how to speak English." Well, will you rate this one using the same scale we started with?

I think somewhat agree somewhat.

Thank you. How about "To be a true Texan you must know how to speak Spanish"?

Somewhat agree.

Next phrase is "In my community, you can do everything you want and get everything you need, even when you don't speak English."

Agree, completely agree. Yeah.

Finally, "In my community, life has been pretty stable over the past 40 years, things haven't changed much."

Disagreed.

Thank you. Now I'd like to hear more about you. From the community itself. What are the some of the things that have changed in this community during the last few decades?

Well, I think the opportunities in not only in, in higher ed are but in jobs. And and I just think the growth of the city. And the more not in the more opportunities but also more to live in here. The quality, the quality of life. Yeah, the quality of life. Yeah, I think, you know, yeah, that sounds good.

Thank you. Overall, is this a good community to live in?

Yes. Yes. And I hear that from people who have moved in to live here or have moved here for their kids, you know, who have moved with families? I mean, I hear that from a lot of young people that come here and, and, and enjoy that camaraderie with other young people. And but yeah, I do. Thank you certainly have good weather. [LAUGH]

Yes. What was or is the best part about being a kid or a young person in this community?

[PAUSE] Well, I think it's very different than when I was growing up. Honestly. When I was growing up, there were a lot of things we could do. I mean, even something as simple as walking to the park, or, you know, walking to school, you know, I mean, can't do those things anymore. So but, but I think that there's, there's a lot of, there's parks here, and there's um, places for students to go for kids to go and enjoy. And then you know, even something like a farmers market, you know, things like that. So I think that all those are kind of the good things in here in the community and you just but you know, you just have to, you have to take advantage of it. I mean, I mean, you have to make the step to be part of all that and, and then there's just a lot of opportunities to be involved in something that you might be passionate about and and it's it's your it's your role to seek that out and find it in. And, you know, there's also like, opportunities for like young people to learn about to get involved in the in the city or to get involved in, learn about what they can do to make it better. You know? I think that's it.

Thank you. Do you feel that the traditional way of life in this community is going away?

What do you mean "the traditional way of life"? Like, the way I grew up? I mean, in some Yes. I mean, I mean, I think the sense of the small community was smaller. And we were able to do things differently, that we can't do now. I mean, even like the theater across the street, the [LOCAL COMMUNITY THEATHER], yes, that's a beautiful old theater that that was the only theater in town, and everybody came to the theater and to see the movies there. And so we can't, I mean, that's, we don't have that anymore. Although I'm think they're going to do something. But I think that, that, maybe that sense of community, while it may be gone, or maybe in another way, because of, you know, everything, you know, everything changes and towns grow. But, you know, it'd be nice to keep that, but I think there's other things here that like the team spirit and things like that, that that maybe have replaced that part of it, not maybe replaced it, but that's still an important part. And it really was way back when so that's kind of stated, that's the idea of, of people always helping people or, or even, not even only that, but like, you know, if someone believes in something like, I mean, I'll give you an example, the Amelia Earhart statue, the woman who really made that happen. That was, I mean, she's old, she's much older than me much, much older than me. But, I mean, she believed in that and, and now that she's done that, that certain person has done other projects in this city. So I mean, so I mean, that I don't know how I got on that subject. But, but, um, but the idea that if you're passionate about something and you care about your communities, then you there are opportunities to do that. And even this person wasn't even from this community. She moved her because her as her husband was from here, so um, so yeah.

Thank you. What is your favorite sports team?

The Texas Longhorns.

And how have they been doing lately?

We're ready. Aren't you ready for the SEC already? It's gonna Yeah, man. I'm ready for football. Yeah, it's gonna be exciting. It's gonna be very, it's gonna be different, but it's gonna be exciting. Yeah.

Will you be at the Games?

Oh, yeah. I have season tickets. So I'm always in Austin for the football games. So yeah. I'm excited. I think everybody's excited about it. I was there for the celebration, SEC celebration. It was fun yeah, it was. Initially, I wasn't sure about us going to the SEC. But you know, I think I've gotten used to it now. So yeah, I'm excited about it. Yeah.

I'm excited. I'm excited for those games. The next question is, did you have chores to do when you were younger?

Oh, yeah, we did. Yeah,

What was the worst chore?

You know, [SCOFF] we had wood floors in our home. So my mother would, we would always have to wax 'em. And back then you did it. On the you would lay out all the wax on the floor. Right? And then you and then we would my mother would rent a polisher. And so the polisher was easy, right? But, but we had to help. Do that. rub that in. But also the other thing was cleaning windows. Oh, I couldn't stand doing that. Yeah. Yeah. I think those two things are probably the most challenging, you know?

And what was the chore? You didn't mind so much

I mean, I mean, washing dishes, you know, hanging up clothes. I mean, you you know, you're you don't I mean the idea of hanging up clothes on a clothesline and then smelling the clothes is so different from getting them out of a dryer. You know, and so I always remember that smell of the of the clean laundry. Being, you know, yeah, those two um, Yeah, I didn't mind doing any of those. I mean, we cooked. We help cook. So you know, yeah. Nice.

And did you ever get caught pretending to do a chore but you weren't actually doing it?

Oh, I remember we were painting the painting some of the bedrooms and. And it was my brother and I. And we weren't into it. And so we just started tossing the paint around and got in trouble. And in trouble for that, that was not a chore that we were excited about doing it, but we had to do it. So...

Thank you for sharing that story. Some people think that it's hard for boys and girls to be friends. What do you think?

Oh, I don't agree with that at all. Yeah, some of my best friends are boys. So no, no, I have some of my No, I don't agree with that. I think it's, I think everybody can be friends. Yeah.

Thank you. Did you ever tell a story about another person thinking the other person was not near you, but then turned around and saw that that person was standing right next to you?

It will, it didn't happen to me that way. But I was in a group of people with a group of people. And they were talking about the person. And when the person turned around, she thought I had said it. And and I was just standing there listening. I mean, I was just standing there. And so yeah, I got grief for it. [SHRUGS]. And I mean, it was all solved eventually. I mean, there was discussion about I never really said that. And, you know, but um, but yeah, I don't. I don't. I don't think its like though, the way it's happened, like the way the question is, but it's just that way that you're part of a group. And I mean, you know, there's that line, you know, the messenger gets killed? Well, you know, you always have to be careful about to be wary. And we should laugh that we would, we would, okay, but you look around first before you say something, you know. So you never know. Never know. Exactly. And you never know. Because even if it's somebody that you don't know, or like, I mean, you never know, because that person could eventually could become your boss. When I say you were up for some I mean, you know, you just can't. Or are...

How everybody knows everybody? I learned that at [UNIVERSITY NAME]. Everybody just knows everybody's so you have to be careful.

I mean, that's that's same here. Yeah. Or everybody's related to somebody here. [LOOKS UP] Oh, God, you have to be so careful in his town about that. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah...

The next question is a lot of people think of the 1990s as the golden decade of pop music. Do you agree? And if not, what was the best decade of pop music?

You know, honestly, what were the songs in the 1990s? I don't even know. I think the best decade was the 50s in the 60s, even though that's not I was not my I mean, I was I was young. I mean, because I obviously grew up in the 70s. Right, or I never really liked the music of the 70s that much. But I think the 50s in the 60s was really the fun stuff. So...

Do you have any any favorite artists?

Oh, let's see. Well, HMM Well, you probably don't know who it is, but I really like Wayne Newton's music. [LAUGHS] We Yeah. And I mean, and but you know, there's is there's just in the 60s that was just so much. There's so much really good music. Yeah. I mean, even the 70s Like, I love Neil Diamond, you know, I mean, but I don't know if he's, I guess he would be part of the 60s too. So yeah, yeah. Yeah...

Thank you for that input. I'll go home and listen to some . Yeah,

you're when you get this great song called Danka Shane, that's really one of its-, have you seen the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off?

I haven't. Okay. Okay.

It's a great movie.[BIG SMILE] Yeah, you gotta watch it. And there's a great, they sing that. What's his name? Matthew Broderick X. sings that song in there. And it's a wonderful scene. Yeah, you should see that movie. It's really good.

I will add that to the list. Amazing. Well, thank you so much for your answers. I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to me. If you do have the time. I have one last request for you before we conclude our interview, and that would be reading that passage. Some backstory on that one of the overarching research questions about the home to Texas program is about linguistic changes in Texas. And as part of this project, a linguistic researcher is asking that interview participants read this brief passage, which only take a couple of minutes about one to two. I think it's a short made up story about life in Texas. That was created in the 1980s. And since then, linguistic researchers have recorded a few 100 texts insane it and they use these recordings as samples of people standard way of speaking, as they try to track speech changes throughout. Okay,

So you're doing it just strictly on linguistics and?

Absolutely, yes. So if you would be reading- willing to read it. Sure. You want me to read it now? Yeah. Out Loud and however you would like. Okay...

All right. I've lived in Texas all my life. I was born in Titus County. Do I say that? [INTERVIEWER NODS] Okay, let me start over. I've lived in Texas all my life. I was born in Titus County. And when I was five, we moved to a farm near White House, which is southeast of Tyler. I liked growing up in the country. When my chores were done, I'd ride my horse, climb trees, or hike down to the creek to fish or swim. One time we tied a rope to a limb of a cypress tree, and we'd swing out wide over the swimming hole and drop into the water. I'd pretend to be Tarzan swinging on a vine. In the spring, I'd fly Clyde kites, and on summer nights we'd catch fireflies, but we call them lightning bugs. Once in a while we'd have fights with corn cobs or pine cones. In the winter. We build a fire in the fireplace and pop popcorn and roast peanuts and pecans. I guess I was a Livewire. When I was 19 I went to work in Dallas at a Firestone Tire store. I didn't like save life. And for a long time I'd go home every chance I got. Mama would always cook my favorite foods fried Oka, Hot fried okra, okra hopping John. That's rice and black eyed peas and pecan pie. We had lots of good times, but going home is not the same now. After daddy died, Mama sold the farm and moved to Tyler. I'd rather be living on a farm right now instead of here in the city. But my wife and kids don't understand me when I gripe about city life and talk about moving to the country. My oldest child says, Daddy, that's crazy. I just die if I had to live on a farm. I almost cried the first time she said that. I know Texas is changing. But I try to make sure we don't lose touch with our roots. While we may live in a city, I want my kids to have a good feeling for the land. Have a sense of place and take pride in being Texans. If they lose our ties to the land, the price of progress just too high

Well, thank you for adding your voice to the collection though. We appreciate that kind of research.

Yeah. And so I've just can you pause or do [PAUSE AUDIO]