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July 12, 2004
"That's right, you're not from Texas - Texas wants you anyway
Fletch used to live in Tennessee and produced the beautiful Smokyblog, which is no more, even in cache. It specialized in luscious digital photography of the natural beauty and cultural artifacts of the Smoky Mountains. The good news is that Fletch moved to my home town of Austin, TX, and is now working his magic at his new blog, Austin Country Limits.I grew up in Dallas, lived for many years in Philadelphia, then moved to Austin, and now live in New York City. So why do I call Austin my "home town"? There are things about Austin that annoy the shit out of me, but it captured my soul in a way that no other place has. I fully intend to return there once I've found my basherte and had my fill of the Jewish learning, davening, and social opportunities of NYC. Austin has this effect on many people; one persistent Austin stereotype is the PhD who has no job opportunities in Austin after graduating from UT, but who works at McDonald's (or more likely, Magnolia or Kerbey Lane) in order to stay in Austin. Not only do former residents long to return, I have met very few people who have ever visited Austin - even for a day-long business meeting - who haven't raved about the place.
Fletch's photos show that he started viewing the town as a native right away. For example, many people are impressed that the headquarters of Whole Foods is in Austin, but Fletch shows us the wonders of Central Market (the pix are of the store about 2 miles from my house where I used to do most of my shopping). Savvy tourists know about the bats under the Congress St. bridge, but Fletch also appreciates the South Congress funky sign art (also my old heighborhood). Savvy tourists know about Mt. Bonnell, the highest spot in Austin (all 800 feet - big whoop, but the view is pretty), but Fletch also appreciates the intermittantly raging rivers produced by our torrential climate. Tourists come in March for the profusion of wildflowers, but we know where to find groovy female auto mechanics and casual Sunday antiquing. We know where to catch a sunset besides the expense account spots. We're not impressed with deer: sure, they're cute, but they fan out in huge hordes across suburban lawns at sunset and eat everyone's flowers. We kibitz the rock-climbers along the Barton Creek trails, if we're not actually climbing ourselves.
The bumper sticker says "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could." If you haven't seen the light yet, check out Austin Country Limits.
Judith | 07/12/04 at 12:46 PM | Categories: Life and how to live it
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