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Opinion

A fond farewell to a city with character

Barrett Goldsmith
Guest Columnist

In about a month, I'll be moving up north and away from Houston, my hometown and my home of 24 years. I'll probably be back sooner or later, at least when it comes time to raise a family, but for now, I bid this place a bittersweet goodbye.

If this sounds melodramatic, it's because I am. But if Robert DeNiro can use a national credit card commercial as a love letter to New York City, I can use a column in a campus newspaper to pay tribute to my city.

Houston is a city with a pulse and a character. It's not New York, it's not Chicago, and thank God it's not Los Angeles. And don't get me started on Dallas. If Dallas is like the rich popular kids who don't have any real friends, then Houston is the poor kid who is nice to everyone and eventually gets rich anyway. I guess Austin is the alternative hipster kid who still hangs a Texas flag in his apartment.

As the heart of the energy industry, Houston keeps this country moving and moving forward. And with the world's greatest health care center, it keeps the country healthy, ironically. And when grown men and women dare to chase their dreams and reach for the stars, they come to Houston to train for that and direct the mission.

As far as culture, we have more than what's in a petri dish at M.D. Anderson. The Alley Theatre, the Houston Grand Opera and the Houston Symphony are all world-class outfits that routinely gain national recognition. Houston's museums are superb, and its sports facilities are second to none. And Houston is definitely the stand-up comedy capital of the South.

But of course, you can't pump up Houston without talking about hurricanes, and for good reason. Everyone in the national media applauded Houston for its generosity, its humanity and its hospitality during Hurricane Katrina. But it was rather telling that none of the local media really made much of it. "Of course we would do that for our neighbors," we all said. "Was there ever any question?"

That's not to say Houston is perfect; the city certainly has its faults, as does every other. Air pollution is indeed a major problem. Public transportation is a bad joke, as anyone who has attended an open-mic night can attest to. The city's corporate culture has failed us in the past. And can we do something about the heat? Turns out we can't.

But the other problems can be solved with ingenuity and ambition, which this city has shown time and again. By the end of this decade, Houston will be the envy of most of the country and the world.

When I leave, I'll miss my family and friends above all, followed closely by iced tea and warmth, both physical and interpersonal. But I'll also miss the unflappable character that makes this city that cool kid you want to hang out with, and who would be happy to hang out with you.

Goldsmith, a guest columnist and UH alumnus, 
can be reached via dccampus@mail.uh.edu.