Dear Houston,
Before I met you, I had lots of stereotypical ideas of what I thought you’d be like. I had lots of stereotypical ideas of what I thought Texas would be like; big hats, big belt buckles and big hair. Coming from a somewhat sheltered life in the west, I’d imagined this is what all of Texas would be like – except for Austin. Austin has a reputation for being artsy, hip and cool. So after my mom and step-dad moved there in 2009, I decided that I, too, would move to Austin to live out my ambitions of having an artsy, bohemian life-style. But, the powers that be had other plans, and an opportunity landed me in Houston, first.
Shortly before I left for Houston, panic set in. What would become of my artsy bohemian life-style were I to be surrounded by all that oil? What about the ranches and country music and people who wear wranglers?
To my surprise, Houston was nothing of the sort. Houston was a multicultural city. The fourth largest city in the U.S. Not everyone wore big belt buckles and ten gallon hats. I did not encounter one head of oversized hair while I lived in Houston. Instead, I got to live in an artsy, walkable neighborhood with brew pubs and independent coffee shops that allowed me to become one with my inner hipster.
I had many first experiences in Houston:
- I started this blog
- I ran my first half marathon:
This is a before half marathon selfie.
This is a photo I used in a previous post to demonstrate what happens when I feel stressed and see chocolate. I thought I’d recycle and use it again to demonstrate what happens after I run 13 miles. I couldn’t take my own after half marathon selfie because I was too busy stuffing my face.
- I got to watch actors audition for, and film, a pilot sizzler I wrote (nothing came of that one, but that is beside the point, here).
- I gained the courage to work on art again and power through (some of) the self doubt that comes with it.
This is some art
- I got married.
We went to the courthouse
- I had a baby.
- I learned to see my depression for what it is; a passing feeling, and not who I am. When sadness and self doubt sneak up, I learned I can acknowledge them and invite them out for ice-cream. Oftentimes, they leave before we get to the ice cream, but I eat it anyway because it is a good excuse to eat ice cream and not feel obligated to worry about what it might do to the size of my butt.
Now that we have moved to TN, I find myself succumbing to the same kind of stereotypes about Tennessee; country music, wife beater shirts and MULLETS. What will become of my artsy bohemian lifestyle ambitions, now? This is even worse.
But, dear Houston, you have taught me that I can’t judge what I can make of my life based on physical location. I can still be who I am. I can get myself out there, be sophisticated, and kick butt to the best of my ability. Although I do still struggle with the fear that my efforts will be assaulted by a greasy, Billy Ray Cyrus-type mullet, you have shown me that I can still be me, wherever I am.
If my mullet fear too intense, I will acknowledge it and take it out for ice-cream. Preferably the kind with alcohol in it, which is something that you, Dear Houston, taught me about, too.
Lucky Wreck 
Love this Amy! I love Houston yet I have come to know that it was part of my life that I will always cherish but its a good time to experience another part of the world. I wish you could live in Durango, it is so YOU! But then, you have lived in Colorado. Best of luck in TN, hope to hear all about it soon.😍
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Thank you, Patricia! You are right about CO, though. I think, of all the places I’ve lived, CO is the most “me” 🙂 I like the way you phrased it for yourself experiencing another part of the world. That is what I will do in TN…experience another part of the world! 🙂
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You crack me up! I can’t wait to visit you in Tennessee😘
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You will always be cool, no matter where you live. Go kick butt in Tennessee and I will try to do my best in Utah! Good luck and I hope to see you on this blog more!
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Thank you, Ben! I will do my best to both kick butt in TN, and get back to the blog more regularly. I know you will kick some bitter butt wherever you are, too! How is Utah so far?
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Utah is great. Can’t wait for school to start next week. I will do my best to use my writing skills to kick butt in Social Media!
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Are you going to school in Utah? That sounds AWESOME!
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Yep. I’m going to school. Starting next week. It will be crazy to go back to school, but I’m hoping that it will be a positive change!
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That is super awesome!! Is that why you moved to Utah? Are you studying writing and social media? Sorry for all the questions! 😛
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That is why we moved to Utah, yes. It was a long time coming, as we had been looking for a long time to move here, but this was finally the thing that got us here. We are really loving it here. It is a Social Media certificate so it will only take one semester, and hopefully will get me a career in Social Media. On the even better side, I hope to use it to boost my blog and make it even better. Right?
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That sounds awesome! l love social media. It’s the best way for introverts to socializes….alone. 😀
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Yeah, social media is kind of awesome. And it is a great new way to advertise. Much cheaper. All you need to do is get the teens on board and get them to make things go viral.
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Yes!
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P.S. You will be amazing in social media as a career because you already are!!
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Thank you so much, Amy! I sure hope so, because I really do love it. I just hope that they are okay with an old man being their social media guy.
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You’re not an old man! But if you were, you’d be a really cool one! Besides, I think age has more value than people give it credit for. You can offer a broader, more rounded perspective which can be refreshing!
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You are so nice for using a better definition for old. I definitely still feel young inside, but my body sure is telling me I’m old that’s for sure.
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OMG, where in TN are you?! I moved from L.A. to middle TN (Nashville area) ten years ago. You can read about that culture shock at https://hbsuefred.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/brentwood-tennessee-not-california/
from which you can tell it had nothing to do with country music!
I moved to East TN (Oak Ridge, close to Knoxville) and discovered it to be vastly different from the middle part of the state. So different, in fact, that I am in the very early stages of starting a second blog dedicated to the wonderful people I have met here!
The biggest shock in moving from L.A. to TN was really the change in climate, to which I have finally adjusted after just a decade or so! The climate change from TX to TN was probably not nearly as shocking.
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I’m so glad to get your comment! I clicked your link and started reading, but had to write back!
We are just east of Nashville in a town called Cookeville, also because of my husband’s job. Ironically, it was a choice between TN or Los Angeles. I lived in Phoenix for a good portion of my life, and have friends and family in CA, so I would have been much more familiar with that! But, the job in TN was better for his career right now, so we moved here. Some days I find myself thinking it’s not too bad, other days feel a bit hard. I am looking forward to reading more of your blog and seeing how you’ve adjusted!
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Hahahaha!!! Amy, Amy, Amy… (shakes head laughing with huge sigh!) 😉
Going from Houston, TX to Cookeville, TN is by ALL cultural definitions a step back — certainly in “time”! You might be around fewer rednecks, but they’ve simply become related hillbillies! LOL
All joking aside, I applaud your sophisticated ass-kicking mindset, and RAISE YOU with more Bohemian Steampunking stoic sophistication firmly grounded in our hedonistic debauchery!!! I recommend several doses of Walt Whitman, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and certainly some Noam Chomsky! ❤
Don't make us strangers you neo-Hillbilly! 😛
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Hahaha! I am laughing at your hedonistic debauchery! 😀 I will see your Whitman and Emerson! And, Noam Chomsky is a definite in our household no matter where we live!
Maybe I’ll look at this move as a spiritual pilgrimage….to the meth capitol of the United States…which is something else about Cookeville I just learned. AHHH!!!
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HAH! Meth-capitol of the U.S., huh? You might want to double-check that title Amy. Those hillbillies might have just MISspelled it… they might think they are the Math-capitol of the U.S. 😛
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I moved from Houston to Huntsville, AL two years ago…I just stayed inside and wrote a book. 😉
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Oh wow! That sounds like an awesome thing to do! How did it turn out?
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Great. Almost complete. :))
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well hey howdy fellow Houstonian. Glad to have you and it’s funny how the old stereotypes have never really gone away (hee hee). There are some for every place on the map, I guess. Glad things seem to be working out for you. Hugs, and have a great one!
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