By Stephanie Haro

Chicago has a spark that truly can’t be said about many other places. One that returns no matter how many times you come and go. Drop your bags and pick them up, and drop them back down in your small apartment and enjoy your time here while you have it.

I often fear that there’s a limit to my time here. After a trip to middle of nowhere Wisconsin for a family trip, I ended up in conversation with a thrift shop owner I was trying to purchase a ring from. The topic of where I was from quickly revealed my recent move to the city and I shared how it had always been a dream of mine to live in Chicago. She recounted how she lived and worked downtown for over eight years with her husband until one day the anxieties and stressors led to them taking a getaway trip to Wisconsin and never coming back. She ended the story with “It’s nice while it lasts, but you’ll get tired of the city.”

There seems to be a ticking time bomb over my head, where the expectation is one day I’m going to leave and never come back. I haven't sensed it yet, and believe me I’ll let you know if I do. For now though, I want to continue living in bliss. The bliss of visiting a new part of the city I’ve never been to before and being taken aback by the little things like the graffiti or the architecture. Walking down Wabash into the loop and feeling the rush of everyone is truly infectious. There are bitter days where you can’t breathe from the cold and hot days where the skyscrapers definitely don't help you beat the heat. Even showcasing the city as your own to the ones you love feels like you're sharing something personal. I could go on and on, but I invite you to fill in anything I might have missed or a personal moment you've experienced with Chicago.

This city has always called to me in some sense, and it's jarring when I hear some people simply never desire to call any city home. The hustle and bustle is too much for them, while to me, it comforts me in the fact that I’m never alone. Must be that something shifts in your brain when you stare out your bedroom window and you see anyone and everyone starting their day on the L tracks right outside.

I’ll love you forever Chicago.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Haro

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