I’m moving
This week, I’ll be packing up and moving from rural Alabama to the city of Chicago. After 2 years in this great state, the time has come to move on.
You know, I never thought I would find myself living in the south after college. It wasn’t even on my radar. I fully intended to move to a big city and find a job at a great design firm. I knew nothing about this region of the country— all I “knew” were the stereotypes and the generalizations that I had heard— most of which I realized weren’t even true. The fact is, the south is full of some of the nicest, generous, and hospitable people I have ever met, some of the best food and beer I have ever tasted, and some of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. Country roads with no buildings for miles, save a dilapidated barn and silo. Fields covered in hay bales drying in the sun, catfish ponds that stretch for miles, with no end in sight. And always a breathtaking, colorful sunset in the big blue sky.
A series of circumstances led me here, and I am very grateful they did. After telling people I transplanted to Alabama, I was always asked, “Why?” Well, why not?! Because I love it here! So many incredible and challenging learning experiences and opportunities came about in my time here…. not to mention some truly amazing people. It’s certainly going to be difficult to say goodbye.
But I am ready for a change. Time to try out this city living I’ve been wanting to do for years. Rest assured, I will always be an Alabama advocate! Thanks for all the fried pickles, fried jalapeños, fried green tomatoes, fried catfish, fried shrimp, po boys, pimiento cheese, hush puppies, grits…
PROCEED AND BE BOLD.
