I moved to Houston in 1990 when I was only 11 years old. Thinking back, I really can’t believe it was that long ago and that I was so young. My world was about 12 inches larger at that time and Houston was a BIG city to me. Heck, it’s a big city to me even now, but living here in LA has really given the meaning to big city a huge perspective…

Anyway, since we moved there in 1990, Houston has really been my home. I lived there nonstop from 1990 through 1997 until August of 1997. At that time, I moved to Dallas for my first few years of college at SMU. But in 1999, I decided that SMU just wasn’t where I needed to be and went back home to Houston.

After two years of living it up and having a nice time off and on, I decided to finally move away from home again. This time to Lubbock, then to Denver for my last two years of college. Denver was a vacation, the whole time I was there was so chill and I loved it!

Suddenly like a lightning bolt, graduation appeared and I didn’t have any prospective for jobs at all. In fact, I had no reason to really even stay in Denver. So where did I end up? That’s right, right back to Houston again. Right back to where my comfort zone was, to where all the familiar people I knew were. Right back home.

Over the years, my family gradually made their way out of Houston. First my brother, then my mom, then me, then my younger brother, I then came back, and then my dad left. But during all that time, I always went right back to that bayou city for retreat, recharge, and re-energizing. I just couldn’t escape the draw of my history with the city.

Finally, this past February came what could possibly be my last trip from my home in Houston. I moved here to LA… and I’m still here. And I’ll probably be here through Christmas. And I’ll hopefully be here for a while longer. I mean, I really can’t put any time tables. I’m trying to make what amounts to my dreams come true here. And that’s really important to me right now. Maybe in a few months or years it won’t be, but right now I believe this is what I need to be doing, no matter how much I struggle.

Just a few days ago, during my daily visit to Alison’s website, I read a couple of posts about her life as well as someone’s feelings about Houston. She linked to someone’s personal goodbye letter to Houston and all the honest, somewhat liberal views of that city. Although I don’t agree with everything said, I do understand this person’s feelings trying to be emoted.

Then in the comments section, someone posted a link to Houston’s new ad campaign which I had absolutely no idea about. Funny thing is, and I didn’t realize this until two weekends ago, this website was mentioned in an article featured in the LA Times article (which I can’t seem to find anywhere) praising the city for various things. Nonetheless, when the heck did Houston decide to launch an ad campaign to draw more people to the city?? I haven’t been gone THAT long.

Houston is no LA, it’s no NYC, and I doubt it’ll ever reach the social status that both cities hold. However, Houston is a major commercial development right now especially with the eastern side of downtown being overhauled in light of two major stadiums for baseball, basketball, and hockey teams to play year round. Once city council, city leaders, and voting Houstonians learn how to spend their money correctly, Houston should become a huge favorite. But until then, I think they’ll remain an anonymous, non-pretentious city with no image except that of cowboys with 10 gallon bucket hats working in high rise, downtown skyscrapers which oil built. Trust me, people who have never been don’t have much of an impression but I’ve gotten the whole “You’re a Texan” bit from many people here in LA.

I have not left Houston for good. Nor do I have plans to return anytime soon. But I will always know that I’m going home when I travel back to Houston.