Emily: “So I suppose this is it.

George: I suppose it is.

Emily: [hugs George, holds on]

George: You have to let go, Emily.

Emily: But what if I don’t want to, George?   What if…what if this is a mistake?

George: Then that’s what you need to find out.”

Well, Chicago and I are no more.  I left today after having moved my belongings last week, and I’m not sure when I’m set to return.  And if I’m honest, driving away, I wasn’t that sad about it, but it was really weird to change my car clock to Eastern Standard Time. Strange how of all things, that made it seem most official.

It’s taken me a few years to get to the point where I was ready and brave enough to move away. I finally got to the point when all the things that I once loved so much about the Windy City, I started to not love anymore.  The city has changed much in the last ten years, as have I, and sadly we’d grown apart.

Nevertheless, it’ll always be part of me.  It’ll be where I had my first real job.  Where I learned how to rock climb and trapeze and throw clay and stand-up paddle board.  Where I became a triathlete. Where I had my heart broken, really broken, for the first time, and where I made the best group of friends that anyone could ever hope to be lucky enough to have. Where I launched my blog and co-founded Chicagogrammers.  Where I gained ten pounds eating allthefood. Where I became a pet parent.  Where I became the #Thisis35 me.

Sure,  there are many things that I’ll be sad about leaving behind.  I’ll miss my friends, no question. My job is on that list, too (dear God I was a mess my last day crying all the way home).  However, the memories that I have from my time here…well, those hopefully will be with me for many, many years to come, and when stories pop into my head, they’ll no doubt elicit a smile or a chuckle and all will be well.

Like how I moved here, I had a broken foot and then almost exactly a year later, broke the same foot.  For my first two Chicago summers, I was in a boot.

Like how I was lucky enough to have the best roommate, and how every Friday night for almost three years, Watermelon and I would order chinese food from House of Hunan and watch “Say Yes to the Dress” before going to bed at 9:30.  

Like how Apple Crisp and I would go to every midnight showing of Harry Potter, and one year we actually slept in her office so that we didn’t have to go all the way back home at 3 AM when the movie was over.

Like the time that Lima, Gnocchi and I ran a glow in the dark 5K and then proceeded to go to a bar to dance the night away in our sweaty shirts and tennis shoes, alongside bachelorettes in their stilettos.

Life how every week for the first few years that I lived here, five girlfriends and I would get together every single week to drink martinis in a very “Sex and the City” way.

Or when after training for three months for a half marathon, Fava, Legume and I celebrated with a “we’re so hungry we must eat now” brunch at the Waffle House, despite all intentions of going somewhere much fancier.

Or when Fava, her sister and I won third place in the relay division in the Chicago triathlon (below).

Or when Tomato and I decided to go to the Indy 500 at the last minute and ended up sleeping in my car the night before in her friend’s driveway (above, left).

Or when Grape and I, aged not 26, acted like we were 26 at Little Grape’s birthday, only to be sent home, over-served, in a cab at 10 pm.

Or when Grape, Donut, Apple Crisp and I all played hooky for the day and went boating, followed by beach volleyball, only to have the best summer day EVER, still not to be topped.

Or when Tomato moved here and we went to see Jason Aldean at Wrigley, and the night ended with me leaving Tomato in her apartment, asleep, holding a half-eaten McDonald’s hamburger.

Or when I went to the hospital to meet my first “nephew.”

Or when the Cubs won the World Series.

Or where last night, my very last night in Chicago, Kettle Corn and I went to see our favorite cover band at a venue where the average age was 24, and both of us were ma’am-ed, separately, and neither of us could get over it.

Where I had so many great adventures and where I’ll no doubt have a few more.

Thanks, Chicago. It’s been a great (almost) ten years. Be seeing you, soon.

Look for my Chicago city guides, coming soon!

Written whilst with Kettle Corn.

Since telling my work colleagues bit by bit about my impending departure (Friday, yo!), I’ve been overwhelmed by so many good thoughts and wishes and hugs and smiles, and showered with offers for lunch and coffee.  It all makes me wonder if I should be leaving jobs more often. I kid, but it goes to show how wonderful all my work peeps are. And these mazariners are just another example of that.

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Oh my gosh…time, time…where is it GOING?  Before I knew it the weekend was gone and then it was Sunday and then brunch happened and then the Super Bowl, and here I am again on Monday night, turning Somethings into Musings.  The good news is, I found an apartment, and will not be homeless come February 21st which is moving day (!).  Help me, dear me.

Anyway, a day late, here are all of my weekly thoughts. The ones caught my eye and the ones that I’ve been saving all week to share with you. Breathe.

And I am very glad that you’re here. 

Let’s all be happier.  These are doable, and I will vouch that #13, a mere smile at the grocery cashier today, got me a free cookie!  Smiles are a two way street.  Smile for you, and in this case, cookie for me.

Related: Don’t let your newsfeed emotionally destroy you. You know that black hole…it will.

Good news! Public schools…not as bad as we all are meant to believe.

Dumbledore logic?  It doesn’t make sense, yet us Potterheads believe it anyway.

Related: Little Buddha got sorted into Ravenclaw and confirms what I’ve always said- that he’s way smarter than I am (Gryffindor, here).

Also related:  Don’t mess with Jo Rowling on the twitter. She’ll verbally whip your ass, and provide all the laughs for the rest of us.

Think you know Friends? Can YOU get 20/20 on this quiz? The best my friends I could do was 19…let me know how you do.

Dress like a woman?  This is what we say about that.

I made a babka and it was so delicious. You should make it too!

Flight attendant saves girl from human trafficking. Bravo!

The last Beauty and the Beast trailer is out! My calendar is marked with a big red rose.

And finally this, all the fuzzies.  A group of strangers clean swastikas off the inside of subway trains. And THAT, is what the U.S. is all about.

Have a good week!

Written whilst chilling to the Michael Bolton Pandora station. You laugh, but give it a listen and you won’t want to listen to anything else.