Embracing 'The Great Place'

One year ago I moved to Killeen, Texas. Home of Fort Hood, aka “The Great Place”. It’s hard to believe I’ve lived in Killeen a year. G and I celebrated by getting free cones from Dairy Queen, which was an adventure to say the least.

That means it’s been a year since I lived in the glorious city that is Austin. One year since I lived with some of the most amazing women I know. One year since I’ve had amazing coffee. One year since meeting lots and lots of new people, few of which are from Austin. One year since hearing the sound of a train going down Mopac in the night to rattle the house a bit. One year since maddening traffic on Mopac and 35.

This also means that I’ve had the opportunity to live in this Great Place for a year. One year of entering Fort Hood to the beautiful sound of, “welcome to the Great Place!” One year of high-end eating at such establishments as Outback Steakhouse and Olive Garden. One year of soldiers everywhere I go. One year of meeting lots and lots of new people, few of which are from Killeen. One year of hearing the sound of artillery in the night to rattle the house a bit. One year of maddening traffic on 190.

Our church has this saying, “I heart Killeen! (say it til you mean it).” Ya know, I remember multiple times last fall and into this spring using the term “the Great Place” as an easy sarcastic joke. It’s an overused joke but always gets a few chuckles. It was literally a few weeks ago that I stepped back for a second and thought, “I am genuinely starting to like this place.” It has grown on me. Some of my friends really, truly love this city and so I began to allow myself to embrace all of what this city has to offer.

So how have I made the most of this city you ask?

• What it doesn’t have in decent coffee shops, it makes up for in Starbucks, and by golly you best believe I’m a Starbucks gold card member these days, y’all!

• What it doesn’t have in gourmet/paleo/all natural food, it makes up for in legit/who knows what’s in it/gluten-full hole in the wall (aka in an old gas station) restaurants G tends to find. 

• What it doesn’t have in live music and people all fancied up with their hipster-selves, it has in soldiers who are pretty much hilarious and cultured in their own ways from all over the planet.

• And get this Austin, Fort Hood is all about zero net waste and coming for your anti-plastic bag self!

• Friends - this city is full of people who move and transition and somehow find a way to make wherever they go home. Military families amaze me because they are resilient and embrace change because well, they have to. I’m blessed to call these people my friends! 

So all in all, it’s been a whirlwind of a year, for so many reasons. But I heart Killeen. This military town is quite endearing in its own way and for those willing to give it some time, it may just grow on you. Then when you drive on post and hear, “welcome to the Great Place,” you’ll smile to yourself and think maybe you actually have arrived.