Viva Chicago

Photo by the amazing hellopoe on flickr.

It seems almost fitting that my first post is about one of my favorite things in the world: Chicago. I love Chicago more than music, more than love, more than happiness. People always call me crazy for being in love with a city but, then again, when you find the one place that you truly belong in, you can have everything else.

Like Dorothy said, "There's no place like home."

I've grown up all over the country - a few years here, a few years there - and I've been almost everywhere I haven't lived. Born in the South, 5 years in Kansas, 2 years in the middle of nowhere (aka Wyoming), and then going on 7 years here in Ohio. It's not that I regret where I've been, but, when a place is detrimental to where I'm going, I can't help but feel resentment.

I went to Chicago over spring break of eighth grade. I haven't been back there since. This is hopefully going to change very soon with a short trip for my birthday. When I first went, I immediately knew that this is where I was meant to live. This was where I was meant to thrive. This was perfect.

Here, people focus on two things: education and money. My town is drowning in greed and it's not going to get any better. In Chicago, people are more invested in just living than anything else. Happiness comes first in my book. I'd rather do everything than have everything and Chicago is going to be the only way out for me. This is my one chance to get away from everything and have a new start in life. Chicago is a breath of fresh air when I'm drowning in lost hopes.

I may dream big but at least I'm getting somewhere.