I Love Aggies

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Texas A&M Aggies.

It started back in the late 70's when my former wife and I took our family to San Antonio, Texas to visit her brother. He was working as an engineer for Pratt & Whitney, and was assigned to a corporate support team at Lackland Air Force Base.

San Antonio is a lovely city, and we had a great visit, but while I was there I heard my first "Aggie" jokes. They were far from complimentary stories about the students who attended Texas A&M University. I felt badly that "Aggies" were being picked on with all those awful jokes, and ever since I've been a "closet" fan  of the Aggies.

Well, last week, a young couple came into the coffee shop sporting two bright, red t-shirts with "Class of 2013" on the front, and "Proud Aggie Graduate" on the back.

"I love Aggies", I shouted, and they seemed as surprised at the exuberant welcome, as I was to see some real, live Aggies in my favorite coffee shop.

They ordered their coffee and a couple of breakfast sandwiches and then sat down to have a conversation with myself, and the bunch of "locals" in the shop at that time.

We learned they met in college, and were married last summer. This summer they both graduated... they both love agriculture... and they both love Texas. Unfortunately, they said, folks in Texas still tell "Aggie" jokes, but not as much as they used to. Progress is good.

They finally revealed how they got to Maine.

When they first met they found out that neither of them had ever been outside of Texas. Then and there, they decided they wanted to visits all 50 states before they died… so they put it at the very top of their bucket list. Maine is state #5. So, they may have 45 states to go, but they are both in their early 20's, so they should be able to make it.


Well, after they left, the cynics in the crowd started with, “I’ve got a buck that says they’ll never make it. Heck, they’ll probably be divorced in 10 years.” It was followed by, “Even if they stay married, my money says that once the kids come, their dream is off.” Someone else chimed in with, “My money says that even if nothing goes wrong, they’ll get tired of pursuing that dream by the time they’re 35.”

Now, if I were a betting man, which I’m not, but if I was, I’m sure the Las Vegas odds makers would support the cynics, and by a LARGE margin. Divorce, kids, and just plain “bored with the idea” have a far greater probability of happening than for them to visit all 50 states.

But, as I said, I’m not a betting man, so my money is on the Aggies to do it.

I told you… I’m a closet Aggie fan… I love Aggies!