kidding around

Nineteen years ago today, my mom, sister and I were traveling from Pittsburgh,PA to Naperville, Il.This was not a visit- my parents decided to move. I remember feeling so physically ill that I could not even see past to the next day. Along the road my mom said “a penny for your thoughts”…boy did I have some thoughts and they would have put me in trouble!

The only positive thing to this whole big idea my dear parents had was that we would be near to my oldest sister. So we pulled up to our home with my dad and sister to greet us. We had to leave out Beagle back in Pittsburgh so our family was very incomplete.

As my sister Susan and started to explore the area, we began to think we had moved to farm country. Everything was SO flat, gray, cold, windy, and farms all around (now, unfortunately those farms are malls and car showcases). I had never been more sick that school year…in fact, I faked sick more than you can imagine. I remember my plan was to miss at least one day, preferably around the weekend.

Obviously as time went on, we slowly adjusted to life outside of Chicago, but it was never easy. Pittsburgh was the only home I knew and I so desperately wanted to go back.

After high school I decided to get out of the midwest completely. My parents were kind enough to let me go to California. I stayed for 9 years and loved it…but, Chicago began to tug at me. I guess having a child made me want my parents to be more around (Nathan’s are overseas). When we finally made it to Chicago and Nathan got a good job teaching art and I had a job with my sister…that sick feeling took over again! Poor Chicago, I really do love you…we just had a rocky start.

So now, when people ask, “where are you from?”, I have no clear answer. For so long my heart was in Pennsylvania then California…but I live in Chicago…at least my kids will hopefully have a more clear answer! Looking back I am so happy I had all these changes and adjustments…they contribute to who I am and the yearning to explore more…who knows, 5 years from now I may be writing from across the world!

Things that I love about my home (present one!)

My parents can see my kids often

I work for my sister and her husband’s successful catering business

The change of seasons

The museums/culture in Chicago

The many prairie paths, forest preserves, and farms

Very friendly people

Great restaurants

Illinois is more centrally located to family than Cali.

Our Parish (St. Joseph Orthodox Church)

Hey, I could go on…that’s good!

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