No one likes to be a stereotype. I can probably state that unequivocally.  But let’s talk about me: I don’t like to be such a stereotype, but there you go. I am. I wasn’t as sophisticated as Prufrock, wondering if I dare to eat a peach; when I moved back to Austin TX in 1998, to begin graduate school (I’d lived there from 1964-1971, then 1977-1985), I was one of ‘those’ people, one of the old Austinites. I’m sure they have the local version in your town. Everywhere I went, it was like this:

Over there, that used to be X.

That restaurant? Oh, that used to be Y.

This whole area used to be considered out in the country.

Even I got tired of hearing myself say those things! I couldn’t seem to stop myself, though. Used to be used to be used to be. I guess it’s a hazard of aging.

So I just realized that two of my favorite places on Facebook are Does you ‘member when? Austin, TX version and Young County, Texas History. The Austin link makes me feel kind of pathetic, like I should just get over my aging self. But the Young County history link is amazing! I was born in Young County, which is in north Texas. Some of that history is really fascinating…. from long before I came along, in 1958. For example, recent posts:

L.P. “Uncle Pink” Brooks took the job as second Sheriff of Young County in 1876 when the first Sheriff, Richard Kirk was killed. Since Graham didn’t have a jail at that time, “Uncle Pink” would take the prisoners home. Sheriff Brooks never had a prisoner escape.

‎”The White Man” was a newspaper published in 1858 at Jacksboro and 1860 at Weatherford, Texas by John R. Baylor and H.A. Hamner. The newspaper led the anti-Indian movement for three years inciting local settlers against all natives, even attacking peaceful Indians. The papers are incredibly scarce, but can be found in the area.

Wild, right? Those stories don’t make me an old fart trying to relive some vague “glory days”…..right?