I’m a native Californian.  Never lived in any other state.

My brother has moved to Dallas to attend Dallas Seminary and hates it.  No ocean.  No mountains to hike.  He can’t wait to graduate and move back.

I think it’s what you are used to.

I understand this too. I too am a native Californian, born and raised in Southern California, with the mountains (skii resorts 35-45 min. away) and the ocean about 35 minutes away. I’ve lived here in south Florida now for 3 years, well two weeks it will be three years, and I came to live here by way of Texas and New Hampshire.

I was stationed at Ft Hood between Waco and Austin. My folks moved to N.H. the first year I was in the Army, so when I got out I moved there for four years and attended the University of New Hampshire. I moved here because the girlfriend I had at the time grew up here and wanted to move back and I was okay with geting out of new england.

All that said, I miss the mountains and people out west. I have come to the conclusion that I don’t have a “home” anymore (hense the name of my blog since shlog was already taken) and maybe I will feel this way until I get to heaven. But just for the record your last label was wrong, I think anyone who has ever been uprooted can relate to that song 100%.

Personaly I can not relate.  I have never been uprooted because I have never had roots.  Home was short lived as I am a military Brat.  But having lived all over this great country I appreciate all areas. 
Elementary School seemed to find me hopping all around the southern states to finally land in New Jersey.  Middle School in lots of snow wearing lots of clothes then off to Hawaii for High School.  After years of sun I ended up in the Northwest in rain for college and finally found my way back to the south for Graduate School.  Missing a place hmmm probably not.

Not uprooted geographically but certainly you can make the leap and relate on a more metaphoric level right?  It’s not just about missing a place but a time in life when you felt more in control of things, more like you were in charge of your own life.

Shawn, my dad was stationed in Ft.Hood.  During Gulf War 1.  When were you there?

Dude I felt like I was more in control of my own life when I didn’t have a relationship with Christ...hmm, wonder if there is something to that(sarcasm).

I was stationed at Ft. Hood from 97’-01’ I’m a few years younger than you, well four and some change to be exact, that’s if I understood your post about you turning 33 I think(don’t quote me on this). I believe I can mention this as my goal isn’t for you to put your business socks on around me (not sarcasm).

So yeah I was fortunant to be in the military between major conflicts, although I did get to go to Kuwait for four and a half months. I liked central Texas, and the people there were awesome. I had a platoon leader who was from Tyler, He was probably a couple years younger than you, if I remember correctly his last name was brines, maybe bryon brines, I’m not sure if you might have grown up with him or not. Anyway so yeah I liked my experience for the most part in Texas.

I used to go up to Waco to a club(can’t think of the old name, midnight rodeo maybe, but the new name was grahams central station) only because in my mind then there was nothing better than a baptist chick away from home at Baylor. This was obviously a time I wasn’t walking with Christ.

Shaun, I spent my whole life in one place (Lincoln, NE) and when I moved away when I was 19 I spent all my time wishing I was back there.  I missed everything about it.  My family, my friends, the pizza, etc… fast forward 10 years and I have lived in several different places.  Missouri, Colorado, and Washington state.  I no longer missed Nebraska.  I think because my friends had moved away, my parents had divorced and I definitely did not miss Nebraska’s ravishing good looks.  The problem is now that I have severed my attachment to this place, it also happens to be where I live now.  It’s the same yet completely different.  I guess, all that lengthy mumbo jumbo to say I get what you say about not missing the place, but what the place holds, memories, relationships, and good food. 

Shaun,

I enjoyed the fajitas at San Antonio Taco Co. when I was in Nashville a couple years ago for GMA.  I assume that you’ve been there and it’s probably not the same as home.  I’ve never been to Texas or Mexico to experience the real thing, but I would like to someday!

And SATCO is pretty good for fast food TexMex but, not it’s no Uncle Julio’s or Pappasitos or the hundreds of other hole-in-the-wall places I miss today.

But it’s pretty stinkin’ good.  It gets me by.

The problem with Mexican food here is this: Even if it founded by Texans (as I believe SATCO was), it’s still run by Tennesseans who don’t know what the hot sauce and fajita meat and on and on SHOULD taste like...if you want it to taste like Texas.

Real Mexican food, from Mexico, is a whole ‘nother animal, btw.  Bland compared to TexMex.  Yummy, but not the same.

The fajita snob,
Shaun

My wife and I got a good laugh out of your post as we’ve not found good TexMex in Chattanooga either.  There are times we really miss Texas, like Breakfast time, Lunchtime, Supper time, and other occasions.  You are on the mark with the difference between real Mexican and TexMex...they just share the same last name.  We lived in DFW for about 6 years and miss Tia’s, On the Border, and other high-fat, high-flavor dives.  Thanks for the laugh...and the good music, BTW.
Paul @ WMBW

There’s always La Hacienda! Every time I’m up there for an Andrew Peterson show we all congregate at La Hacienda beforehand. It’s all about the queso. There’s even a song about it! (Alien Conspiracy)

Hey Shaun. First of all, I have to say, I love the song. I totally get what you’re talking about with missing home while still wanting to serve God with your life. I’m only 17, but I’ve certainly had my share of moves. I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but moved to Texas when I was less than 1, and lived in a few different towns there for a total of about 10 years. I then moved back to Georgia, which I would consider my home. I became really comfortable and loved how God had blessed me with amazing Christian friends. But, after 5 years, God led me to Colorado, a move that totally confused and perplexed me. But after just a year and a half, I have realized that this is where I belong right now and He has really done a lot in my life and in others’ lives through my life. I’ll always miss Georgia, but I’d rather live for God any day.

In Christ,

Jesse B