As much as I love to escape the wretchedly cold Hoosier state, I can’t believe I haven’t created a blog category for travel. I once wrote that the only thought that crosses my mind when I’m asked where do I see myself in 5 years is literally, “Not here.” (Thankfully, I’ve learned that answer doesn’t go over too well in a job interview.) I’ve also written about people who complain about something but don’t do anything about it. (See: my sister, years pre-divorce) So I feel compelled to tell you why I live in Indiana and bitch about it but have not done anything about it.
In my formative years, my family didn’t have much money to travel. My father owned & operated his one man business, so he didn’t allow himself to get away too far or for much time. An amusement park once a summer and possibly a camping trip in Michigan (damn near colder than Indy) was about all we had in the way of family vacations. We had yearly weekend trips down to Tennessee, and my sister and I were once allowed to join Aunts and Uncles on a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This began my life-long love of palm trees, but I guess I was just too naive to realize I eventually was free to move south. People in Indiana just seem to stay…and suffer it out and I figured that’s what I had to do. I was the classic case of “didn’t know what I didn’t know.”
When I graduated high school and should have finally had enough grown sense to make a decision that reflected what I wanted, I made the brash decision to attend the same local university as my older boyfriend. Two years later, I married him…and then divorced him. However, my window of opportunity to escape Indiana was still open! Looking back now I yell at myself like I would a character in a horror movie, “Go! Run! Get out while you can!” (I still tell this to my nieces and nephews, random youngins at the grocery store, and pretty much anyone who will listen.)
I almost got out, but I didn’t. During my first year of teaching, I had enough sense to line up teaching interviews in Jacksonville, Florida during my spring break. My research? Jacksonville was in a warm state and had a comparable cost of living to Indianapolis. Sold. Except, I met my children’s father who had just moved to Indy from the sunshine state. He wasn’t moving back. I didn’t make the interviews, and got pregnant instead. Indiana – 1, Amanda – 0.
After divorce #2, it didn’t seem right to move my children away from their family. By the time they were old enough to have an opinion, of course their friend circle trumped. So, That is the story of how I’ve been stuck in Indiana and am still stuck for a few more years. However, I’ve learned to appreciate the hell out of the travel time that I’m afforded. I soak up every ounce of my experiences outside of Indiana. I’ve been blessed to travel to about half of the states in the U.S. and a few countries south of North America.
I recently visited a city for work that impressed me so much I was motivated to write a homage to the location. I admittedly had never purposely chosen Texas as a specific sight-to-see for fear of hearing lots o’ country music. (The 90’s kind is fine but that new-age twangy stuff, I just can’t.) And I also figured every which way I turned there would be cowboy boots & hats. Contrary to my pre-conceived notions, I heard plenty of good music and only saw one man dressed in said ensemble.Â
What I had the pleasure to experience day in and day out, though, was Nice, Friendly people. The drive-thru employee at Wienerschnitzel had customer service skills rivaled by no other. The patrons and employees of various businesses up and down the streets of downtown Houston smiled and acknowledged their visitor’s existence. The doorman at Hearsay Market Square restaurant was more than happy to talk about the building’s 3 fire-history. Ivan at Los Muertos Tattoo Studio is right up there as one of our favorite humans who has inserted ink into our skin. Bill and Mario, two characters bellied up at Sunny’s Bar, were characters right out of an Adam Sandler flick. The tacos at Too Good Papi, the Taco Truck right outside of a gas station with funny signs, were phenomenal and inexpensive. We were told, “Cheers” when handed our beers at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, outside in January. There was a no-fee dog park in downtown Houston and I was given a cup of ice from a nearby street vendor for no charge. I’m not making this stuff up!
My theory is that warmth is behind the kindness and good vibes of the city. Each and every January day during my stay had a strong delivery of vitamin D from the sky, with highs at 76 degrees. On the day I was flying back to 20 degree home, there was a wind advisory in the Lone Star State. Still yet, with the warm temperatures, it felt more like a fall or spring day vs. bitter winds from the Arctic. It’s possible that Hoosiers are just as positive, but we have to look down when it’s cold to keep the wind from burning our faces off. Just this week, while heading to my car when leaving the grocery store, the wind knocked my hat off my head. While I have never been diagnosed with Coprolalia (the cursing form of Tourette’s), the words: “F**king piece of s**t state, F**k you Indiana!(3x)” came streaming out of my mouth, all before I could notice the lady walking closely to my left. The bitter cold has literally turned me into the crazy lady and I swear I’m mostly happy and nearly normal!
Maybe I was all Zen, attracting and receiving all of the things I like when I was in Houston and then when I got back to Indiana, wah-lah, I closed my valve and put resistance on my path. Regardless of the reasoning, I like to award credit where credit is due. Houston is among one of my favorite cities in America and I highly suggest making the trek down south to enjoy some of its southern hospitality…and sunshine.