I went to the Texas DPS office on Friday to get my driver’s license. I mentioned in a previous post that appointments in the city limits were booked well into 2024, so this appointment was the earliest available without having to drive an hour away.

I was excited to get my license. For starters, my Indiana driver’s license photo looks like a mugshot.

And getting my Texas license back was the final piece of my transition home. I remember surrendering my Texas license when I moved to Indiana in July 2019. I didn’t know then that I wouldn’t be able to keep my license, and I was sad as I handed it in. We knew even then that this move wasn’t the best fit for us, and surrendering my license was a painful reminder of what I was leaving behind.

I certainly didn’t experience the same sadness when I surrendered my Indiana mugshot. After taking my photo and finalizing my application, the DPS employee printed my temporary license and asked me to review the information on it. I looked up, surprised. ”I get my driver’s license number back!” I said.

He smiled. ”Yes,” he said. ”Welcome back to Texas.”  

I grinned, unexpectedly emotional.

I can’t believe it’s already almost 2024. If you had told me on December 31, 2022 that I’d be back in Austin (and adopting two kittens!) in 2023, I would have had so much hope. I still can’t believe I’m here. I have a lot of exciting plans for the new year and I wouldn’t feel this excited for 2024 if I didn’t live in a place that inspires me so much.

But I wanted to address something I’ve been mulling, especially with the elections coming up next year (here is where I get political, so if that’s not your thing, HAPPY NEW YEAR, END POST, SEE YOU IN 2024!!!)

There are a lot of emotions about moving back, obviously joy…but there certainly was fear, too. To move back to a state where my reproductive rights are nonexistent was not a decision I made lightly. I love this place so much and I want to raise a family here, but there are a lot of scary things happening that I don’t agree with (and trust me, Indiana was not any better). I don’t consider myself 100% straight but I’m married to a man – what if I start a family and my kid is queer or trans? Will they feel safe here? And if I have a girl, her rights are contingent on what state she lives in.

I see this trend happening all over the world, even in my birth country, Italy. And the question is, do you avoid living in those places? (Valid). Or do you stay and fight for your rights and those around you? (Also valid). There is not a wrong answer. I don’t know what the future holds and I don’t know what my answer is going to be five or ten years from now. But at this moment, being back in Austin and Texas is where I belong, and I’m going to make the most of my time here.

I hope you have a safe and Happy New Year, however you choose to spend it. See you on the other side.