TexasGirl Photography

Ten years! This is how long we have been living in our house. We still vividly remember the day we moved in, and before that, the day we walked through the front door for the first time with a realtor and just knew: this is it, this is our home. My kiddo was only 3 at the time, but she felt it herself and asked my parents if they would be visiting her here.

In the past decade, my daughter has grown from a precocious toddler to a self possessed, confident, intelligent young woman. But all of that is a story for another day, another time; today I want to talk about the place where our house happens to reside. There’s more to a home than just four walls, and there’s more to a life than just the place where you eat and sleep. The community around us has taken part in shaping the rhythm of our days and in making us who we are today.

When I was going to UT in the 1990’s, Round Rock was just a blip along I-35 on the way to Waco; once I hit that big Old Town Square building (empty, and now leasing! for what seemed like forever), I knew I was officially “north” and well on my way. I never even thought about stopping here, and I certainly couldn’t have imagined living here. When I moved back to Texas from New York, however, it was my first choice. I knew I wanted to be in the Austin area, but not IN Austin itself; this is a decision I am grateful for every single day.

This town has changed a great deal since we arrived in 2010. It’s grown tremendously – to our chagrin, in a way, because we have mourned the loss of all the wild land that once lined our daily routes. For my part, I wish it would quit trying to attract so much of, and be so much like, Austin. Round Rock is and should be its own self, on its own two feet, celebrating the unique and diverse group of people who choose to make it not only their home, but their place of work as well.

My work, these days, besides the 24/7 job of motherhood, hovers around the realm of creativity. Round Rock gave me a chance, gave me a start, in the arts community, and so far I haven’t gotten the boot. I love it here, and I am thankful for how it has loved me back. I hope to have many more wonderful years in these stomping grounds; I hope to see it blossom even more into a booming city in its own right. This is the place my daughter will remember: the place that nurtured her, educated her, accepted her, and helped launch her into the person she will become. Hometowns matter, and Round Rock has been a great one!

To celebrate a joyful decade, I’ve been making photographs with my (gift!) Widelux camera. Last week my daughter had a photography project that required her taking a walk downtown, so I made the images you see here. Main Street has had a face-lift lately and it looks great! I was thrilled to see people out enjoying the evening in spite of everything; I am looking forward to the day it is bustling with activity again. Shop the Rock, y’all. See you out there!