An Austin love letter.
By Heather Brunner
We’ve been together for a long, long time. In fact, I’ll never forget the day we met. It was Tuesday, January 4, 1994. Almost immediately, I was drawn in to you. I felt your energy, your potential, your welcoming embrace. We seemed to have an instant spark, a shared spirit and connection. Looking back it’s clear, it was love at first sight.
I didn’t have much to add to the relationship at the time. Just a hand-me-down garment bag, a very heavy standard-issue Compaq personal computer, and a lot of ambition, no...actually a helluva lot of ambition. But unlike the others, that ambition didn’t scare you off, nor did my temporary I-35 Marriott Courtyard address. You welcomed me. You encouraged me. You inspired me. You also said, “Let’s go dive off the springboard at Barton Springs!”
From the beginning, we both were willing to take risks and expand beyond what had defined us to date. You gave me the courage to say yes to bolder ideas and opportunities. Your charismatic energy started to attract around you a whole new tribe of global creators, innovators and builders. Your potential for greatness was palpable but you remained humble and cool.
Over time you encouraged me to dream even more boldly, to take bigger risks. Your tribe kept expanding and made you increasingly busy, but you still never stopped making me feel special. You even indulged my wanderlust. “Go boldly and see the world!” you exclaimed. “I’ll be here ready to take in all you’ve learned!” I set off. Leaving you hundreds of times, logging over a million miles, each time coming back wiser, more enlightened. Yet returning to your rugged, expansive brilliance never ceased to touch my soul. You were home.
Reflecting on our past 30 years, we’ve built a special life together. A life full of incredible experiences. We worked hard; we played hard. We rode the magnificent highs, tumbled to the deepest lows, not once, but many, many times. We built families, teams, companies and cultures together. We agreed to open our doors wider, embrace diversity and keep it weird. Through it all, you grew, I grew and we grew together.
I don’t know how you still do it after all these years, but you keep drawing me in. And I remain steadfastly optimistic about our future. Your energy, potential and welcoming embrace have only gotten stronger. In fact, it feels like you are just getting started and the possibilities are endless.
I love you Austin.
Xoxo,
Heather
