I love Austin. We go way back, infact I was born smack dab in the heart of her in Brackenridge Hospital, as was the case with my sister and brother, though I do not think they feel Austin to be quite “home”. We moved here when I was 11 and my sis was 3 and my brother vaguely even knows what Austin is, except that Austin Park and Pizza is supposedly located there.

 We moved a lot. And I don’t mean a lot like “we got a lot of rain last night”, I mean it more like “there’s a lot of black people in Africa”.
Needless to say, this was not the most pleasant thing in the world for a young one such as myself. I find moving as an adult to be it’s own small form of torture, but it was much worse as a kid because you don’t see the benefit of it. Moving meant changing schools, finding new friends, getting used to another apartment, and even the possibility-slash- repititious pain of mom and dad either splitting up or getting back together again..Either one required yet another move.

 Present day here in Marble Falls or “Marvelous Falls” as I hear it sarcastically referred to at times. And I’m lucky really. I’m glad to be here. There are people that travel from far away to see this place and here I am living in it and taking it constantly for granted. Even now I feel a bit of guilt for mentioning Austin in such a great light in comparison with the town I live in now… But this place has become a sort of safety net for me. It’s comfortable and does not require change. Change and I, we’ve never been the best of friends, though we sort of have a love/hate relationship. I as a person have changed tons and in my own humble opinion for the better, at least when it comes to matters of responsibility and self control. etc.. I’ve also changed physically in some ways, and some of them not so much for the better, however those are things that can be remedied by (you guessed it)-change..And it’s easier said than done.

  And about 45 minutes away lies my sanctuary. Home. Contant nostalgia passing the formerly frequented grocery stores and elementary schools. The houses and apartment buildings that look so much smaller now than when we lived in them. Some have been replaced by new fancier contructions. I admire the surviving nature of this city. Trees as far as the eye can see as you mozy down Mopac, not to mention Barton Springs and Zilker Park. No smell of overwhelming exhaust and gasoline as in some of the other overrated cities. People on bikes and of all different colors, sizes, and skin decor. Diversity. I love it here. And it’s so close yet so far away at times. Will I ever leave the nest?  Will I someday jump into the blind oblivion of this place I’m calling home?  What is home really if not an escape?