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I don't know how much y'all know about Waco, Texas.
I'm sure you're familiar with our awesome football prodigy/Heisman trophy winner RG3, or the Baylor Women's Basketball team (NCAA Champs 2005 and 2012!). You may even know about the 1993 FBI raid of the Branch Davidian complex (which wasn't actually in Waco, just FYI), or the awesome Dr. Pepper museum.
And yet Waco gets a bad rap. My guess is because it's a small point on I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. I have no idea, because it's quite a lovely place--if you like Texas, that is. ;)
Regardless, something awesome showed up in downtown last August:
I first saw it in person in October, when I took some photos of TPH. I didn't think much of it, other than it made a previously ugly brick wall something fun to look at.
I found out later that it was the work of Mike Trozzo, a local Wacoan and lover of town pride. He and his wife, Lindsey, convinced (paid off?) the building owner to let this happen, paid an artist to come up with/paint the design, and got the appropriate permits to do such. On their own. 'Cuz they like Waco.
Can I get an amen?!
Seriously, they're wonderful people. If that's not enough, they recently started handing out t-shirts to local celebrities/well-known people of the area. I complained via Twitter ("Who do I need to impress around here to get a WacoTown tshirt?!") and Mike tweeted me saying he would easily drop one off for me, as long as I wore it with pride.
Coolest people ever.
After 4.5 years in Waco, I've totally made it. ;)
Anyway, just wanted to take some time to tell you all to have some town pride, wherever you live. Have a little faith, love where you live, and own it.
Thanks WacoTown!
16 comments:
Love this post (and the awesome Waco design!). I've recently started taking more pride in Spokane, WA...we still make fun from time to time, but lately I've found myself defending Spokane to Seattlelites...I guess it's a sign that it's home now! :)
Love this post. I also live in a town with a bad reputation, but that is so vibrant, artsy, and fun if you only know where to look. I think it is so important to find the good, no matter where you live!
Of course I'm familiar with Waco! Jessica Simpson is from there (don't ask why I know that) and I family in Kileen :)
That's awesome....yay for town pride :)
It's so weird to think I could hop on 35 (just a few short miles from me) and drive and drive and drive....and eventually get to you. Maybe I will do that some Saturday when I'm bored. It's the driving back part that sounds daunting. Ha!! Might just have to stay. Waco definitely doesn't sound so bad.
My hometown doesn't have the best reputation either & for years the husband and I would talk it down. But as we got older we realized that we should be proud of where we came from - it helped us become the people we are today.
Whether it's people, places or things - why talk it down and release all the negativity. If we want positive outcomes, let's be positive. It's pretty simple.
Also, I'm way jealous of your shirt & I think Waco is a great place! It's continually growing and it's really amazing. I mean, we have a Farmer's Market now! WHAAATT?
I'm so jealous of your Waco pride!! I wish my town was the awesome! Waco just sounds like a fun word to say. Is it pronounced like "taco" or like "whacko" or "wake-o"? I bet it's wake-o. I'm mainly just jealous that you live in sunny Texas!! I hear it's such a pretty state!
hah! awesome! My SIL loves Waco :)
Yes, awesome!
Sic 'em Waco!
Love this & love your t-shirt! :)
Waco is actually one of the small Texas towns that I had heard of before I moved it! I'm still gonna make a trip soon! That's such a cool mural :)
I want a WacoTown shirt!! Love it! I also need to visit Waco again, it's nearly been 9 years since I was there. Whoa.
Gotta love the Trozzos and Wacotown...and you! :)
I love Waco just the way it is!! I need that shirt! It will go nicely with my "Keep Waco Wacko" shirt.
I come from Cleveland, where we are the butt of every sports, obesity, and crime joke, next to Detroit probably. But I love Cleveland and always will :) Yay for town pride!
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