I returned to Austin for romantic love and now I'm editing that story, making something out of a molehill as they say. I first moved here for college in 98 (you know you’re getting older when younger people try to reassure you that you’re not that old) and after vagabonding through the United States, I found myself living in Portland, Oregon at the time and as much as I enjoyed the amazingly temp
erate summers, I felt lost and alone at times. I didn't really have anyone outside of the traveling friends that I had made. My darling baby sister called and said her room was vacant in Houston and she wanted me to move in with her and my passionate older brother, both artists. Being back in the company of family was a real healing experience. My brother and I ran a bunch of miles together along Westheimer a busy road like Lamar is here, helping push each other. I was a pretty good runner before acro. Then one day, my sister excitedly shares, “Hey! I'm moving to New York next month!” Uh? You just met him a month ago (her crush at the time). That left my brother and I to find someone to lease her room to. I was communicating with a lover in Austin myself and my brother was in love relationship that was unrequited in my opinion (I know. I am from a family of passionate people). When the lease was about to be up , my brother decided to move back to Dallas. I had a decision to make. Go back to Dallas with him or to give Austin another try and see about the girl. It ended in heartbreak as many love stories go and I found myself lonely in a town that I still really connected to so I decided to stay make the most of it. I played a lot of pickup games of basketball at the parks nearby my place. Books and basketball were always two things that I could depend on. Nothing like driving a ball down the middle knowing a bunch of guys would be swarming in to give you a good body check. It was also nice to be on the receiving end of a great pass or making one. I think I learned about teamwork and toughness on the concrete courts. It was nice to see familiar faces but after four years of hoops, I suddenly realized that if I kept this up, I would be killer on the courts but likely still sweaty and single on a Friday evenings like a bunch of the guys I played with. I'm a little less sweaty now, and slightly less single. I mean, U don't have a girlfriend but i definitely feel less lonely. I stumbled upon acro at it's infancy. 8-10 people on most Fridays sometimes there were just 5-6. My first flying, I was put in floating pashi to back-fly (youtu.be/JLqP7KFObCc) and at that precise moment I felt suspended, uplifted, free, connected to my body and connected to another person. My needs were met in so many tangible ways. The need for play, variety, connection, and soon, I would find, growth and contribution. I didn't know then that my life would never be the same but I remember telling myself, "we might be onto something here", or, at the very least, I knew that I couldn't wait to come back the following week.
