It was the trees that drew us to Shavano – well, that and a flatter piece of land. Our yard back in Fort Worth, where I’m from, was beautiful (pastoral even), but that particular lot was so steep there was a real likelihood of breaking your neck if you weren’t paying attention. Unfortunate. Old Shavano Park offered the nature we were surrounded by back home, minus the danger, plus deer and other critters.

My wife Sam(antha), from Memphis, TN, found her way to Fort Worth for employment as a newly minted Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Fortunately, she rented a house next to a good-looking fireman (me), who had no idea that a single, appropriately aged woman was the new tenant. For some reason, I thought a family had moved in, despite having seen no one at all, so I did what I’ve always done - made a batch of cookies and went over to introduce myself. Naturally, nobody was home. I left a note on the door with my name and an offer to make a fresh batch. A week passes, and I’m getting out of my car, looking very rough and gym-ratty with a fresh pump, when I hear “Ryan?” I turned around, saw Sam for the first time, and said, “Oh!” Nine years and a few children later, we’re both huge advocates of being friendly to the folks that live around you, because you just never know who you’ll find next door.

     Our move from Fort Worth was triggered three years ago by my acceptance into medical school at UTHSCSA (now UT San Antonio), and I am profoundly grateful they selected me, especially at my age. That phone call was a highlight of my life. I cannot speak appreciatively enough of the school and its administration – they care so deeply for the students, the patients, and the people of San Antonio. This past summer, we even named our new dog “UTHSCSA Joe” in honor of Mr. Joe Long, for whom the medical school is named. When outsiders ask how you pronounce UTHSCSA, we laugh and respond: “Just like it’s spelled.”

     Aside from the abundance of nature, what we love about Shavano Park is the positively correlated abundance of community. Our immediate neighbors are warm, kind people, and there’s always someone out walking and willing to chat, which vibes well with my family of yakkers.  It just feels right and true that people here take the time to get to know you. The kids have even adopted their “San Antonio grandmother,” whom they race outside to visit when she and her dog pass by in the evening. At this point, Sam and I just accept the chaos that comes with three smallish kids (6, 4, and 3) and jam-packed schedules as I finish up my third year rotations and head into my final year, while she continues solo breadwinning (for which I’m very grateful).

     Our lives are messy with little downtime. In the lulls when I’m not studying or at the hospital, I’m in the yard creating pockets of intrigue (got a major thing for landscaping) while the kids ride their bikes and play. Often, we’ll go on walks past the Halloween House, the Dinosaur House, and the Train House (notable neighborhood landmarks), counting deer along the way, and on Sundays, we usually hit up Gelu Ice at the farmer’s market. Golden hour dinners in the front yard, when it’s cooling down and the light hits just so, are memorable and beloved by us. 

  

     Don’t be a stranger if you see us out and about - we’d love to meet you!