This Thursday I'm moving home, back to Milwaukee where I grew up. It seemed like the perfect time to start blogging as I start a new life. New job, new city, new puppy and new condo seems like a lot of life changes but I'm really looking forward to all this change.
However, as I'm packing up my apartment and going through memories and things I have accumulated over the 3 years I spent in Chicago (plus a summer internship), I realize I'm really going to miss this city and the people I've met here! Some of my best friends have come out of my time in Chicago.
Chicago has held a lot of firsts for me. I had my first real job, and became a "woman" by buying my first perfume (and a few other first things to make me a woman, thanks Melissa and Jess!). I dated my first guy and lived alone for the first time in my life. As scared as I was about living alone, I learned a lot about myself (good and bad). And another first, I bought my first designer anything (Betsey Johnson, I love you).
My roommate Danielle and I :)
So what have I done over the 3 years? Well, I've lived in 3 different apartments: the first in the heart of Boystown, the second in Lincoln Park, and my final apartment in Streeterville. Experiencing three different neighborhoods gave me a variety of culture and diversity.
I got to go to a lot of sporting events: Brewers Cubs games, Cubs rooftops, White Sox games, a Bulls game, and several Blackhawks games (pretty amazing). I also got to attend several Packers-Bears games, including watching the Packers defeat the Bears to go to the Super Bowl!!
Thanks Oz for the tickets!
I worked at Mercer Consulting in their Health and Benefits department for the past 3 years. Honestly, I could not have asked for a better first job out of college. I learned so much from my colleagues and made a few amazing friends. How many people can say that some of their best friends are the people they work with every day? I'll miss you guys so much!
Intern class of 2007!
H&B Packer fans :)
When one door closes, another opens. I do not hestitate to close this door because I know the people here will always be willing to reopen it if I knock. I want to thank everyone I have met here. You have made these some of the best years of my life and I will never forget you. As I continue my "quest for happily ever after", I won't forget the lessons I've learned here or the people I've met.
Goodbye Chicago! I'll miss you soooooo much, but I know this isn't the end. :)
