A friend shared this article the other day called "51 Reasons Living in Chicago Ruins You For Life", and it made me smile. Now technically I have not lived in the city of Chicago, but I'm sure I get points for living in a suburb of Chicago for 2 years of college.
I almost didn't live there. I remember trying to fight my dad tooth and nail about going for a tour of the Concordia campus. By that point I'd made up my mind that I was going to go to the UW school 20 minutes away from home -- nevermind the fact that their teaching program was so-so in comparison. I even tried to talk Dad into staying home instead, and I think I even tried to talk up my "school of choice" on the way there. By the time we were done with the tour, I was hooked. (And that, my friends, is just one example of how I know God has a sense of humor.)
The first few weeks after my family moved me into the dorms were scary, though. I kept wondering what I had gotten myself into. That fear changed when I got the chance to go to the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum not long into the year. None of my friends had signed up, so I joined a bunch of other people from school that I didn't know and indulged my inner nerd for a day. I ended up meeting up with another friend, and it was even more fun, but I started to really appreciate what Chicago had to offer after that chance to wander the museum.
Looking at those pictures in the article fills me with nostalgia as I remember other times that city was our stomping grounds whenever and however we could get there. I even remember raiding my stash of laundry quarters a few times for the El -- or how sometimes we'd share cards that we'd put extra money on in a time of prosperity and foresight when someone else was low on cash. Oh yes, it was worth it. I don't think there was ever a time we went for adventure and came home disappointed.
I'd love to gather up my trusty group of adventuring college friends and hit the streets of Chicago again. Some of us did get together a small handful of years ago when our friend Jen was coming home for Christmas; she was teaching in Honduras at the time. (Yikes, I just did the math...that was 4 years ago already!!!) We had a blast just wandering and talking...and goofing off in a part of Macy's that maybe we weren't supposed to be in but never saw a sign clearly stating we shouldn't be in...but that's another story. :)
It was hard to leave Chicago when I decided to transfer to another school knowing I was leaving those adventures behind. When I got to school in Nebraska, I welcomed the sounds of the crickets and wind again, and I relished being able to see the cows and the stars. But I got homesick for Chicago sometimes even after I came to terms with the fact that I am a better city visitor than city resident. Truthfully, I still get homesick sometimes for Chicago.
It's crazy to see some friends are back in that area again and seeing pictures of the adventures they're having and even passing down to their children now (as crazy as it is that suddenly we're adult enough for kids and such). That's heartwarming in a whole new and awesome way.
Maybe I've over-thought a list that was supposed to be entertaining, but I love being able to look back on a big leap of faith that reaped such awesome memories.
Where have you lived that's left you with some of the best adventures?
1 comment:
I'm so glad you did decide to go to Chicago too! I also almost didn't go to curf. But Chicago has some of ,y favorite memories. Granted... I grew up here. But living in Missouri made me miss it sooooo much. The occasional trip to St. Louis was nice, but it just wasn't the same. I want to explore other cities too though. I've been to NYC and I've been dying to go back and explore more. But I want to try LA, Portland, and Seattle too.
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