I Am Texas: Li’l Tex Brought Me Home!

After growing up in Michigan, I lived with my older brother in Fort Hood, Texas, where I served as an Army adviser for a few months until he resigned his commission and the family moves back to Michigan.

Then, in the 1970s, I bought my first house…in Michigan, where I expected to live my life, and on a date at a restaurant/art gallery, my date -you brought me a photo (which I just couldn’t take with my eyes closed!) of a little boy, his face turned towards the water and his back to the camera.

Several months later, I met and married an American-educated Afghan jet pilot trainer who didn’t like the cold, so I got a promotion to Houston, Texas. We moved here and I thought I would become a Texan! After the birth of my son and my divorce, my infant son and I moved back to Michigan, where I spent many years working and raising him, and I got cancer, but I don’t am not dead.

When I resigned from 8 years working for the State of Michigan, I was seeking treatment in Texas and was offered a job at a federal men’s prison as an instructor/translator in North Carolina. But 8 years later, I broke both kneecaps, so resigned, and I followed my son to California. When he got married, his wife was offered a great job in Austin, Texas, so “Li’l Tex” and his wife moved back here. Then a few years later the cancer came back but it didn’t kill me again so he persuaded me to move to Austin too and now it’s likely again that I’ll be Texas for the rest of my days !

Just got back, but I’ve been to Houston, Galveston, and Pflugerville before, so I’m feeling like a Texan again, but I’m also looking for my last job here! Over the years I have earned several degrees and worked most of my life. So I hope to have the chance to resume my career here and contribute again to my “home” state, Texas!

Susan (née Thygerson) Aktary is a former Spanish and English as a Second Language/Bilingual Teacher, Counselor, Human Resources Analyst, University Administrator and Faculty Member, Job Interviewer, Single Parent, Interpreter, Trainer , educator, state consultant, composer, entrepreneur and journalist who has returned to live in Texas for the third time because she loves “Li’l Tex” and Texas!

Posted on July 07, 2022

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