Geographical Table: Mesa

    For as long as I can remember, my family has taken a summer vacation to California. While there, we would visit family friends, visit theme parks and go to the beach. It is funny that even all those years ago as a child, I remember having the distinct thought that California wasn’t home. I remember wearing my D.A.R.E. shirt that I got in fifth grade and noticing someone else wearing one. The only difference was that mine had, Arizona on the front and his had California on it. I first thought how strange it looked and then was sad for him that he wasn’t from Arizona.

 

    I have always felt a love for my home state of Arizona. Part of who I am is Arizona and Mesa.

 

    Mesa, I learned as a child, was the Spanish word for table. My city is a geographic table. As a child, I took comfort in knowing that while we lived near the Salt River we were safe from flooding. A silly thought, knowing that the river is always dry (I have only seen it run twice in two decades). Mesa as my hometown is very important. I feel a strong connection with this city, I am proud of my city. My neighborhood has a very strong sense of community; to me Mesa always had kind of a small town feeling even though it was a city (much bigger now than it was then). I love the talent that was produced in my high school and other high schools that were shown in plays and musicals. I love the smell of citrus blossoms and the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Mormon Temple.

 

    What makes Mesa great is the people that are here. Mesa has experienced trouble and there are people, like my brother, who would just as soon abandon Mesa and move somewhere else. Fortunately, those like him are a minority and there are many more who are here to stay and who are dedicated to making Mesa the city that it has been and can be. These quality people are the fiber of Mesa.

 

    Another strength that Mesa has is its diversity. There are many people of different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. Those from different backgrounds give flavor and a new perspective to Mesa.

 

    I love Mesa and Arizona and can’t imagine living anywhere else. Anyone could be proud to live in Mesa.