Going Home Again

How strange my life has been since I left Chicago back in the winter of 2007. I have lived in sunny Florida and equally sunny California. While I expected to be in Florida for awhile, I never expected to be in California. My move out west came on almost as quickly as my decision to return to the Midwest. In both situations, I thought about it for about a day. It just seemed like the right thing to do at that time and it still does. Although now my life is on a different course than it was the last time I went to Chicago. Back then, it was about going to college and proving to myself that I could live on my own. It was also an escape from my life in Florida. Did I ever tell you how I chose Chicago out of all the other places I could have gone to? I took part in a college tour in my junior year. Of course, it was to all Christian colleges along the east coast. I don't think I ever had any intention of attending any of the schools, I just wanted to take the trip. Well, one of the places we went to was Wheaton College out in Wheaton Illinois. My friend Liz was going there at the time and I did consider trying to go there myself but I doubt now that I would have gotten in based on my gpa in highschool at the time. Anyway, one evening Liz chaperoned the whole gang of us into Chicago. We ran around downtown and went the Sears Tower, which was closed, and had to use the restroom in an expensive restaurant called Hys, which since closed. All I know is, something happened in me that night. I just wanted to BE there. The neighborhoods, the skyscrapers, the density, the people, the color, and the dinginess too. It's all part of it and only scratches the surface of it all. Whatever it was that hooked me that first time, it's still in me. I'm not thrilled about going back into the cold but at least I know exactly what to expect this time. And, in a few months, it'll be spring, then summer, then fall which is my favorite time of year. I can't wait!