A friend from Oregon recently came to Dallas for the first time. When I asked what he most wanted to see in Texas, I expected him to mention Downtown Dallas, the Fort Worth Stockyards, AT&T Stadium, or a famous barbecue restaurant. Instead, he answered immediately: “Buc-ee’s.” I asked, “You mean the gas station?” “Yes,” he said. “That is the first place I want to visit.” What surprised me was not only his answer, but how normal it sounded to everyone else. For many Americans,