Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Indianapolis IN USA

June will mark the 10th anniversary of my move from Seattle to Indianapolis. Those 10 years gave me the chance to become very close with my mother before she died, the chance to meet so many friends, the chance to meet Scotty, and the chance to rediscover myself.

Indianapolis has been good to me in so many powerful ways. Having said that, my love for Indianapolis has waned. Indianapolis has a chip on its shoulder about its location, its geography, its lack of dynamic public transportation, its far-too-invasive Family Friendly atmosphere, and its fear of change.

There are troubling things here: A huge lack of respect for education, libraries, and the arts. The fear of the outsider. The myth of “Hoosier Hospitality.” The fear of being “too” anything (too showy, too tall, too diverse, too big, too alive, etc.). The embracing of all things easy and comfortable.

There are also amazing things here: The Indianapolis Museum of Art. The Eiteljorg. The downtown canal. Crown Hill Cemetery. Massachusetts Avenue. I could go on and on about the places I enjoy and love.

Indianapolis doesn’t like change and doesn’t like to be pushed. I don’t either. I’m like a cat when it comes to changes.

Thanks to a small group of friends, I’ve been pushed, and my fear of change is going away. I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bless me with as I travel to new horizons and redefine the meaning of home.