Publisher's Letter
Over Christmas break, my family and I pivoted from some previous travel plans to a trip to Big Bend National Park on a whim.
I had never explored that corner of Texas, and I was pleasantly unprepared for what awaited us there. The landscape felt worlds away from home, with sunrises and night skies that made you feel as if you had left the state entirely.
But the views, as stunning as they were, ranked second to something better. The pace was different. There was no hustle, no constant connectivity. With minimal cell service came something rare and increasingly valuable: intentional time together. Our afternoons and evenings unfolded on the back patio with cards in hand, playing round after round of Texas hold 'em. Our currency of choice? Golf tees and sweetener packets. Watching my kids strategize over items of zero monetary value was both hilarious and deeply reassuring. George, bless his heart, played with the aggressive confidence of someone who had never heard the word “bluff.” He went all in on a queen high once, which, for the uninitiated, means he had absolutely nothing. If this child ever sets foot in Vegas, he will return home financially devastated. He can keep playing Texas hold ’em, but only with golf tees and sugar packets.
The games themselves did not matter much. What mattered were the moments of connection that happened around the table: the conversations, the laughter, and the simple act of being together. We all need more of that.
This month’s cover story, featuring the game of mahjong, captures that same spirit perfectly. The local players who brought this game to Texarkana wanted to share it specifically because it builds community. The tiles and mats are far more elegant than our makeshift poker setup, but the real beauty happens when people gather to play anything at all.
In this issue, we are featuring Q&As with our Bowie County district attorney republican candidates and Texas House District 1 representative republican candidates. These conversations matter, so read them carefully and show up to vote. Early voting begins February 17, and election day is March 3. Your voice only counts if you cast a ballot.
You will also find heart health tips from Dr. Reginald Baptiste as we observe Heart Month, our Senior Living section, and a feature on Dorothy Langdon, who just turned one hundred. Imagine that—a full century of living, loving, and creating a community. We celebrate her remarkable life. You will also find our regular favorites, including Bailey Gravitt, our monthly home feature, and much more.
As we head into February, we are reminded that love takes many forms. It shows up among the people we gather around our card table. It lives in the voices we lift through the ballot box. It endures across one hundred years and through every ordinary evening on a back patio. Texarkana Magazine exists because of readers and advertisers like you. Thank you for being part of our community and for believing that connection matters.
