Why Gilbert is HOME

There are many reasons why I picked Gilbert, AZ to be the city that I raised my kids in. Here is one of my favorite reasons.

 Growing up just a few miles North in Mesa, AZ; Gilbert was "far" for those of us who grew up in the orange grooves. Gilbert, is where my dad would take us every October for Gilbert Day's Rodeo. As I sat in the backseat watching the sunset, I loved how the rows of houses turn into farm land. It meant we were close. It wasn't until we turned onto the bumpy dirt/clay makeshift parking lot that the smell would hit. My dad, who is from Texas, would say it smelled like home. To my brother and I, it smelled like dirt, cow poop, hay, fumes, fried food and smoke. We would step out of the car on those cold/wet October nights and I was always shocked by the amount of people who had the same plans as us that night. We would make our way to "our spot", by the pin that held the bulls after they finished with their 8 seconds in the ring, and my dad would go get us hot chocolate. 

It was a night full of fun memories and laughter. We watched the clowns run around the ring, people jump onto baby calf's, men TRY to stay on the wild horses or the bulls, kids chasing calf's around the ring while trying to catch the red ribbon. My favorite though, was watching my grandpa show up unexpected every year and he would act surprised to see us.

I'm smiling as I write this because the ironic thing is my house is built on those old rodeo grounds that helped shape my childhood. Every day when I take the turn onto Val Vista I remember those days when Gilbert was "out in the sticks" and feel totally blessed to call this place home.

Gilbert is still known as a town, not a city, and it is considered the largest TOWN in the country. Normally, when population goes up, so does the crime rate. Gilbert, however, has dodge that bullet and it was named the #2 safest city in the country. (click here to see article). Even though there are over 200,000 people who call Gilbert, AZ their home we still have amazing small town events; local farms markets, an amazing downtown, and we even still have Gilbert Day's Rodeo - it has just grown a little.