I live here

As rector of Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church, he gets to see the rich cultural tapestry of the community, as well as its flux of population.

By THE REV. STEPHEN RUDACILLE
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 31, 2003

My family and I have lived in a number of places, both suburban and urban, and the most important element of those experiences has been the people, the friends we have made and the people we have gotten to know. That is especially true of the Brandon/Valrico area in which we have lived for 26 years.

Serving as rector of Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church in Valrico has put me in the position of knowing not only the diverse people of the parish, but people throughout this growing community. There have been both frustrating and enriching aspects to this.

This has been a very transient community with people constantly moving in and out. Sometimes I have barely gotten to know people before they are packing up and moving to a new location.

Yet, this area draws people from all over the country and world, and I find these varied backgrounds and experiences contribute a lot to our life here. We have a lot of singles and families as well as retired people, and I find that mix attractive.

During my time here I have had the good fortune to know some of the old-timers, people who were here when this was a very rural area. I have a parishioner who is 96 and vividly recounts what life was like in her childhood. This connection with people whose roots are deep here helps me appreciate our history.

The spirit of volunteerism is alive and well in this community. I see it in the various communities of faith which is a very healthy sign. I also see it in the volunteers at Brandon Regional Hospital and the Emergency Community Help Organization (ECHO).

The Brandon Swim and Tennis Club is just a few miles from my home and office, and I am able to swim there year round. Though I only began to swim rather recently, I became a U.S. Masters swimmer and have had great coaches to teach and encourage me.

I thought I would miss the cultural advantages in Florida. Yet, I found we have a first-rate symphony orchestra. The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, the professional theater groups in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota, along with the many and varied offerings of our local universities provide a wealth of cultural experiences.

Brandon has some wonderful locally owned ethnic restaurants: Spanish, Cuban, Greek, Thai, Japanese and Floribbean.

Our family embraced the local cuisine the moment we arrived here. Our grown daughter and her family now live in Charlotte, N.C., and when they visit here, LaSeptima Cafe is one of the first places they want to go.

It didn't take long for the Brandon/Valrico area to feel like home to us. And, over the years we feel we have put down deep roots here.

-- Rev. Rudacille lives on St. Cloud Oaks Drive in Valrico. We're looking for readers to tell us, in 400 words or less, why you live where you live. Please include your likes and dislikes. Send essays to Brandon@sptimes.com and please include a daytime phone number.