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Ode to Home

Ode to Oak Park,

Where we learned to live as a family -

Away from family.

The place that gave me space

To recover from postpartum anxiety.

The home Steve built with his bare hands,

Every finishing fearfully chosen,

Brands that supposedly promised

Safety for our children.

The home Bub learned to say his first words,

Where he learned to run and

Climb stairs.

Where he transformed from

Toddler to boy.

Organic parks with diversity -

Where our children could play

Barefoot and free.

Field, Lindbergh, Constitution.

Spacious and green without pesticide pollution.

Access to the city

With all its dirt, grime, and

Wondrous glory.

Sun, sand, Montrose Beach,

Field, Shedd, Planetarium -

Showed Bub how to be adventurous.

Dragonfruit, figs, tomatillos,

Asian pears, and purple potatoes.

New foods from the co-op

That opened up our tastebuds.

The library that broadened our minds,

Where Bub learned to love

Planes, trains, and automobiles,

But also dim sum, pumpkins,

And superheroes.

Thank you, Oak Park,

For two years of learnings and,

Moments of pure bliss.

Our first home as a family,

Where Bub learned to piss

On the potty.

I arrived terrified of the new

And leave stronger, slightly wiser -

Open to the unknown

With a now calmer view.

Thank you.

SUMMER 2021

SUMMER 2022

SUMMER 2023

Home Sweet Chicago

For a long time I felt like I didn’t belong in Chicago. I didn’t go to a Big Ten school. I didn’t enjoy spending the day drinking beer and watching sports. The Chicago hot dogs, pizza, and Italian beefs made me overweight and bloated. Even when I started to love the city, I didn’t want to admit it. I was in denial that my husband’s favorite city in the universe was also mine.

When I lived in Chicago, I craved forests and mountains and the ocean. I craved diversity and new experiences. For the past two years, our move to California gave me what I asked. From where we lived in Berkeley, I was amazed that we were a 15 minute drive from beautiful hikes in the Redwoods. I loved all the different choices in delicious Asian food. I loved that we could take day trips to the beach and to wine country. For a time, I was happy to escape our old lives in Illinois.

What I didn’t love about living in the Bay Area were the high living costs and long commutes. It took us both over an hour to get to work, and it felt like most of our paychecks were going towards rent. I missed all the space we could afford in Chicago and how convenient it was to move about the city.

But the biggest driver of moving back to Chicago was having a baby. The minute I found out I was pregnant, Chicago tugged at my heartstrings. It’s time to go home and nest.

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