Sunday, June 6, 2010

Acquired

One year ago today, we finished loading a U-Haul truck and pulled out of our apartment in Utah to begin our new life in Iowa.

It's been difficult, it's been demanding, it's been occasionally lonely. New beginnings always are. But there has not been a single day that I've regretted it.

I was told over and over that I would miss the mountains. That I would miss Utah. But I don't. I miss my family. Almost more than I can say. But I'm not "homesick" in anyway.

This is my home.

In some ways, I feel that this is where I was always supposed to be.

I had no intention of every ending up in the Midwest. I knew that eventually, I would leave Utah, but I was sure I would end up somewhere along the West Coast. Most of the residency interviews I did were in places less than a day's drive from a coast of some sort. The only place I interviewed in the Midwest was Iowa. And that I did on a last second recommendation from my residency director.

As the interview process went on, I became more and more frustrated with the programs. Nothing was quite what I wanted. Either the program was lacking, or the area was one I could not picture living with my family.

There was one interview in particular, that was in a place Hubster and I had always dreamed of living. The interview was a complete disaster. Throughout the course of the interview, I got left behind by the group, lost in the hospital, yelled at by one interviewer, and mocked regarding my political views by another. There could not have been a worse interview. I called Hubster in tears, saying that there was no way we could do residency at this place. My interview at Iowa could not have gone differently. People were friendly, I instantly connected with many of the other residents.

Looking back, it feels that this was always the place we were supposed to be.

Yes, we left behind scenic mountains, milder winters, Costco, Ikea, familiarity, and family.

We also left behind a small apartment, inversions (if you're from Salt Lake you know about this), crowded interstates, endless commutes, road rage, snow in May, snow in September, lawns that will never stay green, poor air qualify, underfunded schools, and horrid neighbors.

Here in Iowa, we've acquired tornado warnings, humid summers, subzero winters, and more bugs.

We've also acquired a slower pace of life, our own home, fantastic schools, quiet, Panera, plenty of space, ground that grows anything, beautiful springs, amazing autumns, fireflies, and cardinals.

We've acquired home.

7 comments:

  1. It's always such an amazing feeling to know you are exactly where you're supposed to be.

    There are a LOT of things I don't miss about Utah. And only a couple that I do miss.

    I hated that stupid inversion.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So glad thing worked out. It is amazing how we always end up where we are suppose to be.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My husband moved here to Iowa almost 12 years ago from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. When I met him (8 yrs ago) he used to talk about going "home" a lot. Now when we visit his family, he can't wait to go "home" to Iowa.

    I'm glad you've found home.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Home is where the heart is...So glad you and your family placed your hearts in that Iowa spot. I love Iowa and can feel the soft and perfect grass between my toes right now.

    Here's to the next year and may it only get better!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I know nothing (other than what I've just learned from your post) about Utah or Iowa, but I do know exactly what you mean about ending up somewhere you never guessed you'd be, never wanted to go, and feeling exactly right there.

    Oh, and missing IKEA.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sometimes I long to live somewhere quiet...but I've always lived in the suburbs on the outskirts of Nashville...so I wonder if I'd miss the easy accessibility to everything?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Creating a real home is the heart's comfort! I'm so glad you get the chance. You love to bloom and do where ever you are!

    ReplyDelete