In 1996, we were living in Portland, Oregon, and debating whether or not to leave the beautiful Pacific Northwest and move to Houston, where Joni grew up. I came to Houston on business and couldn’t believe what I saw. When I got to the hotel I immediately called Joni back in Portland and said, “Oh my God, there’s no way I’m moving here. There are bales of hay in the hotel lobby, everyone looks like a cowboy, and people are even riding horses down the street.” After a very long pause, she said “Michael, it’s Go Texan Day.” Fast forward 19 years and I’m on a beautiful ranch in Fulshear, Texas, coordinating a photo shoot for our March rodeo-themed issue. Everyone is wearing cowboy boots and hats. Horses and even a few donkeys are roaming around the place, in a much more natural environment than a hotel lobby or a city street. The funny thing is, it all feels pretty natural to me too. Guess I’m officially a Texan. It was bound to happen. See y’all at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. michael@thebuzzmagazines.com