Honi Alexander

I didn’t come to Galveston by choice but, I became an Islander by choice.

Imagine for a moment, you are minding your own business, browsing in the airport bookstore. As you quietly turn the pages of a magazine, someone stands next to you and simultaneously asks and touches your hair. It’s me. It happened to me. I quickly leaned my head away from her reaching hand and took a step back. Looking both offended and afraid, she said, “I’m sorry. Your hair is so beautiful and curly, I just wanted to touch it! It’s softer than I thought! Did it take a long time?” I was...

I moved to Galveston kicking and screaming from Colorado. I came here, not out of choice but out of obligation. My parents, specifically, my mother needed me as she was becoming more and more ill. I did make the choice to fulfil my obligation and moved here. I didn’t want to be here, I didn’t appreciate the beach. Yet. I couldn’t get used to the heat. Still. I couldn’t see the hidden charm in being a local and I couldn’t yet understand the simultaneous love and loathing for visitors to the...