There's a certain shock that people express when they hear that we both grew up in Austin, and we are still here and now raising our child in the heart of the city.
Austin is this awesomely hip sort of town, known for historically great live music and legendary singer/songwriter types, a renowned university, a vibrant tech scene, the epicenter of Texas politics, and for being an eccentric hub for weirdness. I am thankful to be living as an adult in my hometown, even more thankful that my Austinite husband "gets" me and my pride (as well as my undoubted frustrations) for my birthplace, and more thankful still that we have the unique and phenomenal opportunity to raise our baby in a lively town, that just so happens to be the hometown of her parents, grandparents, and one of her great grandparents.
When friends call and say they are coming to town, there is a go-to list of things that Greg and I will recommend in our unpaid/unknown careers as extension officers for the City of Austin Chamber of Commerce. Microbrewery lovers? We can help you. Weekend warrior cyclists/runners/swimmers/general outdoor enthusiasts? We can help you. Lovers of the arts, boot scooters, history geeks, academiaphiles, professional shoppers, politicos, foodies, horticulturalists, festival goers, animal lovers, nudists (did I mention, we live in Austin?), historical marker seekers, music fanatics, road-trippers, you name it, we can help you. There are many reasons we love living here, but there are better reasons that we love being from here.
There a lot of things that Greg and I have done here in Austin, as children, that we cannot wait to do again with our little girl in tow. Today we marked a few off the bucket list. After a restful morning together, we decided on an early lunch at, a Gen-u-wine Austin Original, Chuy's. No, my Tucsonan friends, not that Chuy's (ew), I'm talking the real Chuy's, the Jalapeno Ranch pourin', Mexican Martini slangin', fish taco preppin', Elvis Lovin' Chuy's. The Chuy's that Brandon Wright and Steven Aarons took me and Carrie Morton to for our pre-homecoming dance dinner freshman year. I think we smelled like fajitas when we showed up at the Hilton Downtown, but, really, what other perfume could you want in life? If you live in Tennessee, Kentucky/Indiana, or Birmingham, you may have seen a Chuy's pop up near you. I would encourage you to head on over, so long as you're not trying to lose weight. We each ordered the fish tacos (our usual, and one of Piercy's favorites while she was in the womb), a tortilla for the littlun, and a side of jalapeno ranch for those chips, please! Miss Thang got down on her tortilla, Mommy's refried beans, and even a few bites of pescado from the tacos.
After we filled our bellies, we headed to Zilker Park, for swinging, Barton Creek viewing, and a little ride on the Zilker Zephyr, a cute little train that choo-choo's around the park grounds and solicits waves from trailgoers on the Roy and Ann Butler Hike and Bike Trail.
I had my second birthday at Zilker Park, and just being under the pecans takes me back to the sound of the grackles in the trees, while mom and her fellow mommy friends watched over my older brother and I and our playmates. The playscape has changed to a more colorful, updated, safe, structure, but some things never change: the shrill screams of excitement from dozens of kiddos playing their hearts out under those giant pecan trees transcend decades. I was reminded again today how thankful I am that my daughter will grow up loving this city that has treated her Daddy and me so well. Enjoy some of these photos of few Piercy Joye's memorable "Austin Firsts."
I want to see the stocking!!
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