A $4 MILLION DOLLAR TEXAS PARTY

That's the price tag for the Inauguration shindig in Austin when Greg Abbott accepted the governor's reins from Rick Perry. Folks in my area who attended are still talking about it.

Eddie Deen and his crew fed about 17,000 people after the inaugural festivities. This was Deen's sixth inauguration in a row, and the past experience came in handy as he and his staff prepared about 4 tons (8,000 pounds) of beef brisket, 170 gallons of barbeque sauce, 17,000 yeast rolls, 4,500 pounds of potato salad, 340 gallons of beans and 2,500 pounds of coleslaw. Also there was 1 ton of smoked chicken and 1,700 pies - half chocolate buttermilk and half vanilla buttermilk.

A crew of 150, which included 50 students from Carter High School in Dallas and 50 employees from the Travis County Sheriff's Department, served the food in about one hour. The servings were generous and the cost was $10.00 per person. All leftovers were taken to the homeless shelter in Austin.

Deen, from Terrell, Texas, has served his barbeque to tens of thousands including presidents, Olympians and Texans. "It's a lot of responsibility," he says. "But if you set the stage, it will unfold, and it's just a beautiful thing."

The tab was picked up by the taxpayers in Texas, but they believe they got their money's worth.

A TRUE GRIT GOVERNOR

New Texas governor, Greg Abbott, gets his chance to write Texas history his way, reflecting on the Lone Star State's past and redefining its future as he becomes our 48th governor since statehood.

Abbott, age 57, has a personal story of pain, sacrifice and determination like few others in American history.

Paralyzed from the waist down at age 26, Abbott not only continued his Houston law office career, but also won judgeships and eventually statewide office. As an American governor with disabilities, he is already an inspiration to thousands and will bring new hope to Texans every day.

Abbot's governing style will not include knee-jerk decisions. He is more deliberative and wants to hear the case for all sides before passing judgment.

He must deal with possible expansion of Medicare health care benefits, school finance and policies, illegal immigration and Texas' transportation needs. Abbot must face all this and more. Along the way he must inspire Texans to do the most they can with the abilities God has given them.

We don't know much yet about how he will govern. But we do know he will not give up.

Quote for the day: Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

INTO THE SUNSET

Don't expect Texas' ex-governor, Rick Perry, to drift quietly into obscurity.

The boy from the cotton fields of Haskell County, who set an unprecedented 14-year tenure as governor, has miles to go before he sleeps. His legacy of limited regulation, low taxes and business-friendly policies, which boosted the state's economic health during periods of uncertainty, will always be remembered. Under his leadership, scores of businesses moved into Texas, diversifying the economy and supplying decent-paying jobs to millions of Texans. Perry's love of and dedication to Texas are unquestioned.

His laser-like focus on economic growth was occasionally distracted by confrontation with the federal government over environmental regulations and immigration. His characteristic swagger and conservative views often eclipsed his ability to appear thoughtful. But in his departing speech, Perry said, "There is room for different voices, for disagreement. Compromise is not a dirty word if it moves Texas forward." He asked Texans "to dream boldly, to act boldly, to live boldly."

Rick Perry has learned many lessons during his governorship -- lessons he may apply to his own political future.  His future is unknown, but this is farewell, not goodbye.