I boast about my hometown of Houston quite often. Some may say that because I have lived in Houston for all of my life I have no way to compare it to other places. Many who come to Houston for a visit focus on the traffic, the heat, the humidity, and the lack of zoning that all come together to create a city that seems to have no purpose other than providing jobs and houses for people. They speak of the hurricanes and floods that endanger the citizens with a certain level of regularity. They insist that there are no natural features of the city that make it stand out as beautiful. Instead cities like Austin, Dallas and San Antonio get much more favorable reviews than Houston ever does, thus its only claim to fame seems to be that it is the fourth largest city in the United States and perhaps the most diverse. 

Indeed all of the above ideas are somewhat true but they tend to be the observations of those who do not take the time to discover the heart and soul of Houston. The reality is that Houston people are some of the best folks anyone might ever hope to meet. For the most part we celebrate our differences and do our best to make sure that everyone is respected. Still Houston is much more than just nice people who always answer the calls for help. It is indeed a fun place with more to do that even most of the citizens ever discover. 

Of course we have our sports teams that enliven our town throughout the year but we are also known for having some of the best cuisine in the entire United States. When I leave Houston I always find myself yearning for the culinary excellence and variety of my city. There are few places where the dining experience is so wonderful and it would literally take years to experience all of the wonderful places that cater to our taste buds. 

Houston is also as weird as Austin in its own way. We have a crazy art project called the Orange Show which is one of the finest examples of folk art anywhere. Every year over two hundred art cars parade through our streets delighting thousands who are awed by the artful renderings of automobiles sporting the creative genius of the community. We celebrate the Houston Heights and the Montrose area where everyone feels free to be themselves and a full-fledged China town offers shopping for exotic food, clothing and other goodies.

Houston has it’s sophisticated side as well with a symphony orchestra, a ballet company and theaters offering live musicals and plays. There are multiple universities in my city offering degrees in virtually any area. Our medical center is one of the best in the world and people come far and wide in search of top notch healthcare. 

We have an art museums along with a natural science museum and a fabulous zoo. Tucked in central Houston is a Holocaust Museum and a Children’s Museum. We even have museums celebrating different cultures. We boast the Space Museum on the campus of NASA. When those rockets head for the moon they are communicating with the headquarters that made “Houston we have a problem”famous. 

On any given weekend there is some kind of celebratory event happening in every corner of the city. A devoted individual would be able to fill a calendar with things to see and do. Our rodeo is a weeks long celebration of customs, food and entertainment. Each year the Houston Garden Club hosts an extravaganza of floral delights. For the adventurous the Gulf of Mexico is only an hour drive away. 

I can’t possibly name everything wonderful about Houston but I do know that for many people we are just a big crowded city with little to offer other than traffic. Those of us who have lived here truly understand how much more there is to this place. We understand why it continues to be one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. We are an island of acceptance and understanding in a state too often known for its rigid ideologies. The church going folk here live in peace with a population so diverse that anyone is sure to find a group that feels comfortable. We really are a place of peace and love. 

It would be nice if we had a mountain view or a nice lake or river to provide some scenery but the flat land is all we have. It is in the people of Houston that we find our glories and I just wish that everyone might see what a grand place this is to be.