As most of you know, I packed my bags and moved to Denver, Colorado to chase a job opportunity. The first thing people would ask my parents and I was how I felt about it and how they felt about it. For me, I was feeling so many emotions. I was feeling nervous, scared and excited. I can't speak for my parents, but I think they were feeling the same emotions. People assumed that being an only child my parents would follow me every where I go and that is not the case with my parents. My parents always knew that I didn't want to stay in Cincinnati all my life. They were already prepared for the day I graduated that I would not be staying. My parents wanted me to follow of dreams and experience the world in front of me. Don't get me wrong, my parents are my best friends and I wouldn't be where I am today without them, but it was time for me spread my wings and see what was out there.
I'm going to be completely honest, it wasn't easy leaving two cities behind. I left good friends as well as my precious dog. The hardest part was the realization that it was happening. On my last day at Buffalo Trace Distillery, it hit me when I drove on the gravel road and looking back at the water tower in my rear view mirror that I wouldn't be there every week. When I walked out of my Lexington apartment for the last time and drove away from the University of Kentucky, I couldn't help but tear up a bit because I'm leaving a city that had been my home for four years and that wasn't even the hardest city to say goodbye to.
I was home for a week before I left for Denver. I was trying to eat all my favorite things (UDF shakes, Skyline Chili, LaRosas, and sushi). The week went by so fast and I didn't expect it to be so hard. I've wanted to leave Cincy for a very long time and the fact that I made my dream come true, still shocked me. As I spent my last night with one of my best friend, she said "This isn't goodbye. This is see you later," and I literally started crying, which made her cry. At that moment, I thought "What am I doing?" Why am I leaving my friends, my parents and moving 20 hours away. Then I thought, I went to college out of state and this is just one big challenge for me to take on. I was already two hours away from home while in college, which was a huge step. An additional 18 hours won't hurt, right?
As I continue this path of letting my wings fly, the challenge of moving out to Denver has probably been the best thing I've ever done for myself. I'm experiencing a completely different culture and lifestyle. It blows my mind, that I'm 20 hours away from home and life in Colorado is completely different. But no matter where I go I carry Cincinnati with me always. My junior year of college, I got myself a necklace with the Cincinnati coordinates. I wear it near and dear because no matter where I am I'm a Cincy gal at heart.