How We Got Here

Michael & I grew up in Corpus Christi, TX. We went to high school together. He was a year behind me but we had a tennis class together. I had a huge crush, but I wasn't on his radar-not yet anyway! After high school, I kept running into him around town but we never were able to firm up any plans to meet. One night, I went to a bar with my girlfriends and he was there w/ some guys. We all sat together had a great time dancing and drinking. Finally, the connection was made. The next night, I went back to the bar with the girls and as I was leaving, in Michael strolls. I broke the cardinal rule of ''if you came with the girls, you leave with the girls'' and Michael took me home. The rest is history!

Michael soon headed off to Arlington to go to UTA. I went to San Antonio, then Austin and then finally back in Corpus Christi. All this time we managed a long distance relationship. Finally, I moved up here about a year before we were married.

We found the house one day in 1994 while driving around searching for estate sales. We were playing hookie from work. As soon as we turned onto Barnett from Oakland and saw the view, we thought what a neat neighborhood...this could be home! We both missed the water views of Corpus Christi, the view of downtown would be a great substitute. Well.. the moment we stepped into the door..we KNEW we were home!

It's been a long journey, getting the house like we'd like and we've a long way to go.

What we do

We work to live not live to work. We love to travel (cruises are our favorite) and spend time with family. (Michael's the youngest of 8!) We also have a furry child and we're foster parents. I am on the Fort Worth residential Board of Adjustments. I am blessed to work part time for a physician. Michael is in direct marketing.

Why we love East Fort Worth

The people!! I never thought I'd develop such wonderful friendships and have such great neighbors. I don't know of many neighbors who can boast that when the phone got knocked off the hook, their neighbor several blocks over was concerned enough to send her husband to check up on us. (Thanks Mary D.!) Or, the times I've come home to find my paper put up on the breezeway.

Activism: I love that we band together to preserve our neighborhood. From trying to preserve Broadcast Hill to keeping our pecan trees pristine to code compliance issues..we are an activist neighborhood.

Sense of community: I can't quite put my finger on it, but there is a sense of place here that I don't seem to find in other areas of the city. It's not about our amenties, which we know are sorely lacking, it's about the people..their diversity...it's about this neighborhood having a heart and a spirit that's like none other I've ever seen.