Changing Times

From the top of Dignowity Park looking west you can see just about all of downtown San Antonio. Our neigborhood is so close to the city that we can walk into town in less than 20 minutes. Within walking distance of our house, a downtown transformation is occurring. Streets are being fixed up, new lighting has been installed and a general clean up of the Eastside has begun to take place. All in an efort to attract more tourist to the area....which is a good thing. To the northeast of our neighborhood and less than a 10 minute drive is Ft. Sam Houston, an Army post with a long and colorful history with San Antonio. The post is undergoing a huge transformation as it readies for the arrival of close to 12,000 military and civilian staff that are being moved to Ft. Sam beginning in 2009 as part of the BRAC 2005 realignment. Since the military is not buiding any new housing for these folks many of them will be looking for affordable housing outside of the post. Our neighborhood is surrounded by ongoing change and transformation. The big question for me and my neighbors is how will our neighborhood be impacted by all of this change and impending transformation? Will newcomers to San Antonio look to Dignowity Hill as a place to live? Will it change the character of the neigborhood? Is this good or bad? Will gentrification take over and force some of our residents out? So many unanswered questions. One thing I believe is that no matter how this change will affect us we must begin to collectively take ownership of the way we think about ourselves and our neighborhood. Good or bad, image is everything and what we present to the world makes a lasting impression. For example, when my wife and I go for our walks around the neighborhood I'm dismayed by the litter and trash that we often see in the streets and in some of my neighbors yards. Before anyone thinks about moving into our neighborhood we must begin to be good stewards of what we own and where we live. Ok, I really don't to want to be preaching here but think about it this way: if we don't care enough to keep our streets and yards clean then why would anyone care enough to consider our neighborhood as a place to visit or move to and live?

Two Daughters

My wife and I have two grown daughters, Monica and Jennifer. They grew up as sisters but not in the traditional sense. You see, we're a blended family, which all that means is that our kids are from previous marriages. Both girls grew up visiting their dads and living with their moms and step dads. We somehow managed to get through the challenges that comes with visitation, step-parents and getting kids launched into the real world. They both graduated from college and have done well since then. It's easy for a father to be proud of their kids and I'm certainly no exception. Both of the girls are successful in their own right and from what I've seen so far, they have figured out that service to others is what matters. One daughter is an elementary school teacher, she's married and has blessed us with a beautiful grand daughter. The other daughter is a police officer and still looking for the right guy. I worry about both of them as most parents do but mostly I have faith in them that they will figure out whatever challenges that may come their way. For the most part, I'm in awe of them at what they've accomplished and how they touch other people's lives by their work, their independence and their dedication to making the world a better place. I often wonder how we managed to produce such good and interesting kids. My hope and wish for both of them is that they continue to grow by taking some risks, always looking to better themselves and the world around them. Be strong, have faith and be safe.