Keep Austin Weird?

“Keep Austin Weird” is widely considered one of the main slogans for this beautiful but admittedly quirky Texas capital town, along with its proud declaration of being “The Live Music Capital of the World.”  So why do we want to keep our town weird, anyway?  Do we mean weird as in unique?  Diverse?  Mysterious?  Extraordinary?  

Well, perhaps all of those definitions can apply.  For instance I don’t think there is any other locale who would vote the Mexican free-tailed bat as their official animal like our City Council did on April 8, 2010.  But that is actually fairly understandable, considering that the Congress Avenue Bridge is the home to the largest urban colony of these guys in North America.  You must come here some time between March and November (which everyone knows is “bat season”) because that is when each evening at dusk these 1.5 million nocturnal creatures shoot out from under the bridge in an undulating spotted cloud of fluttering wings, off to forage for food in the darkness.  So, not weird as in odd, but weird as in amazing. 

I was in Austin Bergstrom Airport the other day to pick up my daughter Holly who was returning from her exploratory visit to her future new home, Chicago, and was greeted with this sight – the central baggage carousel didn’t have a screen with flight information.  No, in Austin this functional everyday contraption is decorated with an entire array of larger-than-life “Guitar Art” for the enjoyment of all who come through.  But seriously, what else would you expect from “The Live Music Capital of the World?”  So this isn’t actually very weird, either.  “Play to your strengths” is more appropriate, I think. 

As I waited in the airport, what actually did strike me as weird, as in surprising, was the attire of the travelers.   Having been raised by a Mom under whose guidance all questions of etiquette were strictly referred to Emily Post, as in this case, “dress up when you travel,” the casual wardrobe of those congregating around the slowly circling bags was bordering on mutinous.  Yes, there was the occasional business suit with the matching Gucci luggage set, but much more prevalent garb included flip-flops or tennis shoes, tank tops and cutoffs proudly revealing tattoos and piercings, complete with gear like bedrolls lashed to backpacks with bungee cords.  In fact, the “dressed-up” look was more like flip-flops with jewels. 

My favorite piece of luggage that was rescued from the guitar-studded baggage carousel was a battered blue and white Coleman ice chest sealed hastily with thick silver duct tape and pulled with a frayed length of rope knotted to the handle.  But I realized, everyone was dressed perfectly appropriately – because they had just flown in to Austin, for goodness sake!    Some folks were returning home but many others had chosen to travel here on purpose to enjoy all that Austin has to offer.

So where were each of these visitors planning to go during their Austin stay?  What venues were on their sightseeing itinerary?  Were they going to pay a visit to the Bob Bullock Museum?

Or take an official tour of the State Capital?

Maybe their plans included a stroll around the “40 Acres” of the University of Texas campus, home of the Texas Longhorns?

Or possibly a walk or jog around the Hike & Bike Trail along the shores of Lady Bird Lake.

Of course at this time of year that activity will quickly make them hot and sticky so the next stop will obviously be a cool refreshing dip in historic natural spring-fed Barton Springs Pool.

  

Then without a doubt, no trip to Austin would be complete without dining at some of the thousands of fabulous restaurants, and then later in the evening hitting the Sixth Street scene or the Warehouse District for some of the live music that Austin is so famous for. 

Speaking of music, as I waited in the Austin airport that day, I decided that one thing was missing from the overall ambiance.  There was the Guitar Art and stores with lots of Austin-ish souvenirs, but it seemed like it would be fitting to actually hear music playing over the airport sound system, and especially perfect (in my totally unbiased opinion) would be the "Official Austin Song" chosen in 2009 by popular vote (thanks to the help of many of you) and continuing to reign to this day.  A streaming of this song, written and performed by my son Ryan Harkrider, entitled "Nobody Ever Wants to Leave" would add such a flair, such an Austin touch to the welcoming atmosphere as guests disembark from their flights and enter the "Live Music Capital."

You can go to his website which has a little player and you can listen to the Austin Song ~

http://www.ryanharkrider.com/

But in the meantime, just look at some of the words ~

So meet me down in Austin

Where the good times never end.

Let's kick off our shoes and let the fun begin.

You can come just as you are

There's nothing else you need,

'Cause when the good times roll

Make yourself at home

Nobody ever wants to leave.

                                                   ~ by Ryan Harkrider

So THAT'S why the travelers were so comfortably and casually dressed!  They were not governed by Emily Post rules, they knew they were coming to Austin and here you can….

Come just as you are, there’s nothing else you need.

And as I sat there in the Austin airport I had a revelation – THIS is how God wants us to feel when we come to HIM!  He wants us to feel comfortable, totally accepted, like we can just be ourselves and not put on airs or try to earn His love.   That’s why He had Jesus, the “King of Kings and the Lord of Lords” be born in a dirty old stable!  That’s why the angels appeared that night not to the royalty and religious dignitaries of Bethlehem but to the blue collar workers – the shepherds – to announce the Good News!  God was trying to make a crucial life-affirming point – that He is accessible to us all.  He values what is in our hearts, not any type of importance or status that the world can give.  I’m so glad.

Jesus declared, ‘I am the Bread of Life.  He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty…..Whoever comes to Me I will never drive away.’     ~  John 6:35, 37

And as I saw Holly finally riding down on the escalator from her airline terminal on the second level above, her face lit up the moment she saw me, as I’m sure mine was beaming back at her as well.  THAT is how God looks at us when we come to Him – His face lights up in recognition and love for us.  And I’m glad my home is in a town that also welcomes everyone who comes, just the way they are. 

So, Keep Austin Weird?  I think it’s more like “Keep Austin Real!” 

Let's kick off our shoes and let the fun begin!

BONUS:  Here is one of Ryan's music videos which shows some more of the Austin highlights.  Enjoy.