Texas Traditions 101

Danny and I had dinner with his mom last night. She had just come in from Dallas, where she was spending time with Danny's sister. She had consequently attended our niece's homecoming football game.

"It was very fun!" she told us excitedly. "Mallory looks so great and her best friend was covered in mumps that she got from her boyfriend."

"OH MY GOD!!!" I blurted out, surprised that she was at the game in that condition.

Danny joined the conversation. " I gave them to my girlfriend in high school too."

"You did??" I gasped, now even more surprised. "So is this something that's just common in Texas?" I asked.

"I'd say so." Danny answered. His mom nodded her head in agreement.

"Huh......" I said, taking it all in. "So is it basically just like the chicken pox then?" I asked, horrified but intrigued at the same time.

"WHAT?" my mother-in-law exclaimed, she now confused too.

"Oh my god." said Danny. "She thinks we said mumps. Look at her. Look how confused she is. No, honey. We're saying mums. MUMS." he said slowly, over pronouncing each syllable. "Flowers."



I've since googled "mums." (Mumps too, actually.) But I'm relieved to tell you this is the sort of thing they were talking about.

Homecoming "Mums"

Not this.

Person with "mumps."

Though I'll have to ask Mallory to be sure, I'm pretty sure mums, (as opposed to mumps), make homecoming a bit more fun.

And that friends, has been "Texas Traditions 101". I hope you've enjoyed it, but more importantly, I hope you've learned something.