Big Changes

"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning."

Yes, I just quoted a mediocre Sandra Bullock movie from the '90s. However, I can't think of more appropriate words to describe the big changes that are going on with us right now.  As of May 17th, we will no longer be Chicagoans. We are moving back to Tulsa so we can be near family and give Henry the same kind of childhood we had, which we just don't believe is possible here in Chicago.

While we are excited to begin this new chapter of our life, the move is definitely bittersweet.  A lot of wonderful (and not so wonderful) things have happened to us during our seven years in Chicago, so the decision to leave was not an easy one. The City of Big Shoulders played pretty hard to get at first, but once we got past her rough exterior, she's been a pretty good friend to us.

I think back to when we moved here just a few days after I graduated from law school and John graduated from art school. We knew a total of two people here and didn't even have jobs, but we couldn't have been more excited for our big city adventure as we drove up Lake Shore Drive for the first time on our way to our new apartment.  Seven years, and lots of tears, trials, and triumphs later, we both have wonderful jobs and dear friends that will be really difficult to leave.

I know there will be lots of tears on my part when we drive past the downtown skyline for the last time as a Chicagoans while on our way out of town on May 17th. But we are truly excited to start this new chapter of our lives and rediscover our hometown.

So while the Hope Floats quote might be corny, I can't think of a truer way to describe our time here in Chicago. We had a rough start, we persevered and had some of the best years of our lives, and we are definitely sad to go.

Thank you, Chicago.  We will miss you.  It's been real.