Growing a Garden

My daughter’s been telling me that I need to blog for weeks. After figuring out that blogging is simply sharing my thoughts, I asked her what I should blog about and she said to just tell people what’s on my mind. That’s a pretty daunting task to be given a blank piece of paper a told to write something that would interest people.

It reminded me of my friend Jessie. She decided her son, John (an incredible pianist at 10) needed to improve his writing skills. She set a blank piece of paper in front of John and asked him to write a couple of paragraphs each day. This simple exercise turned into a struggle for him.
I suggested that she give John a milk carton, soil, and some seeds (it was spring time), and to ask John to write about growing tomatoes. Giving John a project that had to be cared for on a daily basis where he could see results motivated him. He wrote about cutting an opening in the milk carton, filling it with dirt, and planting the seeds. He began noticing that the plants needed the right amount sunshine and water to grow, and that fertilizer applied at the correct time and amount accelerated the plants growth. John has become a better writer and he grows great tomatoes.

This simple story is reflective of Pflugerville’s needs. Pflugerville has a lot of wants and needs. Walking the neighborhoods and talking to people, I heard that my neighbors don’t want to grow just a single plant, but they a want to grow a garden. People in Pflugerville want a community with lower taxes, a diversity of businesses, an ability to get around town, and a sense of security. They want a downtown with places to meet friends and hang out with their families. I want to see Pflugerville blossom into a place that families continue flourish. If we apply the right mix, we can accelerate its growth in a direction that grows our economy while reducing taxes.

I’m sure that I will hear more as I continue walking the neighborhoods. New types of ideas and needs the City should consider. Honestly, I want to help the city grow and prosper. If that means finding the right soil and watering myself, I’m willing to invest the time to continue building a community that we keep calling home.