You Might Be From Odessa If You Know About These Four Things

Odessa people where are you at!? Have you ever done something then thought "Man, I'm so Odessa"? You know, those things that ONLY Odessans do.

I know without question I have, probably more times than I can count. It got me to thinking about all the different things that only Odessans do. Let's see how many of these you've gotten yourself into.

CRUISING CLEMENTS

Streets on a Sunday night now tend to look a little scarce. However, there was one in the early 2000s that was always hopping. If you weren't cruising on Clements, you weren't anywhere. Everyone and their momma was there living their best lives.

The parking lots were full of car clubs showing out, and all the fresh burn-out marks created a smell I can instantly recognize today. Maybe it's time to re-enact this and show our kids how we used to do it back in the day.

PIG ROAST

Ok, so this is a new one, but it's quickly becoming one of those very Odessa things. Back in the day, it was a whole event when someone decided to throw a pig on a spit and have a pig roast.

Now I don't know if this is limited to apartment complexes or not, but I'm noticing every single weekend there seems to be SOME kind of pig being roasted, and it always seems to be at an apartment complex. If anyone could please tell me what that's all about, I'd appreciate it.

THE NEW H-E-B

Walking through H-E-B for the first time as a kid, it felt like there was absolutely nothing bigger than this. H-E-B isn't just a Texas thing, it's a local treasure! As expansive as H-E-B on 42nd felt, it did not keep up with the demand of our growing city.

If you grew up in West Odessa, like myself, you knew something was missing. Driving to H-E-B on the other side was like getting ready for a road trip, especially when you already lived 16 minutes from the city limits. Good thing we were blessed with the perfect solution, the "New H-E-B". Just don't ask which H-E-B is better because you may start a turf war.

PICTURE PERFECT PARKING GARAGE

Photography is becoming more and more popular everywhere, even in the small town of Odessa. Let's be real, there are only so many places here that are picture-worthy and even less that are a suitable backdrop.

I want you to picture something. Let's head to the corner of 8th St. and Texas Ave. See that small parking garage on the corner? Don't blink because you may miss it. Drive to the top of the parking garage and get out of your car. Can you see the city landscape? Not only is it gorgeous, it's the perfect place to take some graduation photos or even just a quick photo shoot for your portfolio.