Watson Wire

Why Can’t We Be Friends?

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 |

I'm sort of in a sentimental, retrospective frame of mind right now.  You see, at this moment 21 years ago, Liz and I were at the hospital in labor with Preston.

Liz got to lay down most of the time, and they gave her some drugs.  I, of course, had to stand a bunch with no pharmaceutical help, which meant that by the time Preston was actually born – shortly after midnight on August 25th – I was in a lot of pain.  My legs really hurt.

(I also remember Liz being, let's just say, unhappy with me for pointing that out to her.  So let's keep this Watson Wire between us.)

Anyway, Preston McDaniel Watson is going to be 21 tomorrow.  That's impossible for me to wrap my mind around.

Facebook and Preston's Grandmother.

When we were kids growing up, my mother, Billye Faye Watson, was great to our friends, always welcoming them into her home.  She got a kick out of them being there.  She enjoyed the energy and activity.  They grew close to her.  I remember my brother Kyle's friends even calling her Billye Faye.

One of my college roommates still tells a story about staying with her and my dad when he needed to be in that part of Texas.  My memory is that he was taking the CPA exam, which was being conducted in Ft. Worth.

He was in a sling because of an injury to his arm.  So my mother cut his meat and made him his favorite pie.  Two of them.

She used to say to me, "You can never have too many friends."

Let’s cut to the chase

In that vein, I want to make sure you’re following me and “liking” me on Facebook.

I also want to make sure that all of your friends and family are also plugged into this network of folks.

And I want to make you an offer you can’t refuse – a pair of tickets to the big party at Zilker Park that we’re having on October 7 featuring Robert Randolph and the Family Band.

Listen to my mother

I’ve been beating the drum for a while about how important social media networks and platforms are to modern campaigns – and to governing in a way that people can know what you're doing.

The truth is that when social media efforts are working right, there isn’t much of a difference between what a candidate or officeholder's doing online versus in-person. In both ways and places, you’re listening to folks about their hopes and concerns, talking with them about the big issues facing the state, and working with them to bring about the positive changes that will make Texas a better place – for this generation and the next one.

So having you and your friends signed up with me on Facebook isn’t just some neat deal that makes me feel good and would have made my mother proud (though it is, and it does, and it would have).

Much more than that, I want you to sign up so we all can be connected – the more the better.  That will help us all know what’s really going on in Texas and in the lives of everyday Texans ... and allow us to work together to do something about it.

And with Election Day just 10 weeks away now – and the legislative session soon behind that – it’s critical that we all take this simple, vital action to come together and make big a difference in this state.

See www.facebook.com/KirkPWatson ... Get tickets

To make this a little more interesting, I’m going to give away 10 pairs of tickets to my big annual Concert Under the Stars party in Zilker Park to randomly selected folks who are signed up at www.facebook.com/KirkPWatson. All you have to do is click the "like" button at the top of the page, and you're in.

Sure, I’m excited to do that.  Robert Randolph is one of the most electrifying performers you'll ever see, and this event – which we've been doing for the last four years – has become an institution for music fans, political junkies, and pretty much anyone who loves being out and under the stars in Austin.It’s going to be a great party, and I’d love to see all of you there.

But the truth is that there are plenty of other reasons to join with me on Facebook.

It’s where you’ll find a page dedicated to the upcoming online video town hall meetings with some of our legislative candidates who are facing tough challenges this session.  (Don’t forget, the first one of those will be with State Rep. Chris Turner on August 31.)

And we already post and link to most of the entries, videos and articles from the website on the Facebook page, too.

So it really is about the best way to keep up with what’s going on in the Capitol, the campaign, and Central Texas.  And I’m expecting to roll out some more new features on the page as we gear up for Election Day and the Legislative Session in January.

So ...

If you haven’t done it yet, go – right now – to www.facebook.com/KirkPWatson.  Sign up to be part of this special community and to come to a very special event.

Also, today, go to your friends list and invite other folks to be part of it too.  Seriously.  Don’t be greedy.  Let them share your joy.

And finally, stay tuned.  There’s a lot going on, and you’re going to be seeing more and more of it – but only if you’re looking in the right place.