I know I am in NorthEast Texas when I see Pine trees taller than me. I live in South Texas where I am taller than most trees. The dirt is red in East Texas. Even with my eyes closed I would know that I was in East Texas. I would hear the accent. Aspirin is pronounced aspareen.--spring is sprang--pink is pank. Karen is Kayreen. There are foods in East Texas that can hardly be found anywhere else. Cream peas and lady peas, elephant heart plums,cershaw squash, salmon croquettes with maple syrup,the worlds best figs, yellow meat watermelons,mayhaw berries,and water so soft that you hardly even need any soap. Last,but not least,the people are as friendly as any in the world. A lot of what I love about North East Texas is disappearing as it becomes more metropolitan. It is comforting each time I visit and find that much of it still exists. Karen Kerr