An ode to Columbia

Tonight is my last night (at least for the time being) as a full-time resident of the great city of Columbia. It is funny because I hated this city for a good part of college, always wanting to go back to St. Louis to see family and be at home. But now this is my home. When I came here, I knew no one in the city, expect of course fellow Mizzou students I knew from high school. Now I know people practically everywhere I go, and they know me. Kevin and I have build a life for ourselves, and now we are leaving it all behind. I am excited about a new opportunity, especially the fact that both of us will be employed at the same time. But I am so sad to leave Columbia. As clearly I like lists, here's a list of some of the things I will miss the most about Columbia. (no particular order... except #1).

10. The "feel" of the city - you can feel the excitement and energy on home football weekends. But there is also the quiet calmness that comes during Mizzou breaks. I love it all.

9. The beauty that is Jesse Hall and the Columns at night.

8. Most of my favorite restaurants are here - Flat Branch to Addisons to Broadway Brewery to Uprise - I love eating in Como!

7. The memories of mine and Kevin's relationship that I can feel nearly everywhere we go. Some of them are momentous - our first apartment together, the first place we kissed, the place we adopted Cocoa from. Then there are the simple and mundane - the Taphouse where we have spent many a Sunday this year, the parks where we've taken Cocoa, the many places we have eaten, shopped and built a life together.

6. Going to work everyday at the University of Missouri. While my job has its ups and downs like any other, but I am proud to be employed by such an awesome place. And even though I still get to work from home and will be back probably more than I would like, our rental house certainty doesn't compare to the MU campus, a botanical garden in and of itself.

5. As I mentioned above, I love knowing people most places where I go. They know my account at Kinkos, my name at the Post Office and me and my sister at the nail salon. I know these are simple relationships you can develop most anywhere you live. But for me, this is the first place I have ever really had this experience.

4. The "culture." True/False (even though admittedly I have worked every year during this)...Roots'n'Blues...the Show-Me State Games... MU sports.... Columbia has something fun to do pretty much every weekend.

3. The location and size. To build upon number 7, the best thing about these events is that they are not 45 minutes away as they would be in a bigger city. I can get everywhere I want to be in about 15 minutes, max. I LOVE this. Not to mention the fact that Columbia is less than 2 hours from KC and St. Louis - can see family quickly, but the distance makes me appreciate more when I do see them.

2. The parks. I love to walk, and both of our apartments here have been within walking distance of beautiful parks.

1. And the number one things I will miss is my sister. I know she probably won't be in Columbia forever, but for now, she is and I will sooo miss our walks, lunches at Uprise, relaxing nights at the nail salon, her hooking me up at Kaldis, and just being able to see her whenever I want. Like I built my relationship with Kevin here, I feel in many ways I did with Maggie too. We have gotten so much closer and I definitely will miss her more than anything.

And for good measure, and because I know nothing is ever perfect, and you only remember the good memories when you're leaving, here's a few things I am happy to leave behind...

1. The mall sucks!

2. Kevin bought a HDTV the morning before we found out he got into MU law. ANd the whole time we have lived here, we have not been able to get HD.

3. Sharing walls for three years has been long enough! Not to mention no backyard, garage, etc...

4. There are some bad memories associated here, too - my car accident, losing mom, heart attacks for both of my Grandpas.

Columbia has been a part of my life for 7 of the last 8 years...but Springfield here we come! I am certainty ready to live with my husband after three weeks apart. And, on a final note, "If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies." (author unknown)

Why I am not blogging right now: Round 2

Packing. Moving. Working. Stressing. Enjoying last weeks (days for Kevin) in Columbia. Exploring Springfield.

New house. Still needs help but we were there for less than 24 hours, so I think it looks pretty darn good all things considered (much thanks to parents-in-law and dad)

Frontyard


Backyard


Living Room


Our bedroom


Guest bedroom


Loft/second guest bedroom/our office




Kitchen


Dining Room




Bathroom