Now that I am here and away from my friends and my family, there are certainly days that feel lonely for us. But last weekend, I walked out onto a frozen Lake Harriet and stood there, looking around, trying to comprehend that what I was standing on was not earth, but water. I felt equal parts excitement and fear, and soon was just overwhelmed with complete gratitude for the opportunity to be here right now.
Until Minneapolis, there has never been a time in my life where I have found myself in a completely unfamiliar place doing completely unfamiliar things. Before I left, I thought I would be afraid, but now I'm here and I'm not.
So why don't we go somewhere only we know?--Those were the words that comforted me in the six months that Rob and I lived in different time zones, where he was alone doing his first winter and I dreamed of snowy roads and an unfamiliar city waiting for me. I wrote them down and sang them and prayed that this new life of ours would become exactly what we wanted it to be.
We've had some family come to visit us here, but sometimes it feels as though we haven't shared Minneapolis very much with the people back home. It really does feel like our place--the city where we lived as an engaged couple, and the first place we'll live as newlyweds. Our favorite coffee shops and restaurants and lakes are just that--ours. One day we will move on and go somewhere new, but we'll always have Minneapolis.
Photo credit: V.A. Photography
Such great words!! And how wonderful that you were able to do this together, exploring new places and creating memories that are just yours. Congrats on everything!
ReplyDeleteI love this and it was words I needed right now. In just over a month my partner and I are moving to Australia and I'm getting increasingly nervous but I love those words: So why don't we go somewhere only we know?
ReplyDeleteI think I'll be using those words for comfort in the coming months too. Thanks Megan!
It'll be great! Good luck!
DeleteI know that feeling...well, I remember that feeling! That's what it was like when we lived in Italy. It was our place—somewhere only we knew.
ReplyDeleteSee? You're great!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gayla!
DeleteBeautiful words, Megan!!! I never really thought about it, but those places really ARE the ones we dread the most and yet end up treasuring every moment we had there! My place is Cape Cod. I moved there by myself for a student teaching position and made a new (but temporary) life for myself with all new everything very quickly. There was no guy, so it's kind of the place only I know. The place I love to look back on and talk about. Enjoy Minneapolis! You'll never forget it. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm so thrilled you love Minneapolis, it's a city with a very special place in my heart. That is a wonderful sentiment, one I hope to live by in the next few years.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I drove on a lake it was so surreal and amazing. I ran around, maybe like a crazy person, and texted pictures to my mom because I knew she'd freak out :)
Speaking of frozen lakes, you guys should go to the Art Shanty Project when it opens in February. I went years ago and it is really fun and interesting.
Your words in this post are so beautiful. (And that's a beautiful song--one of my favorites.)
ReplyDeleteyour lovely words ring true - my husband and i move here right after our wedding, and we've had a wonderful time making the city feel like home. it can be difficult to be away from friends and family, but minneapolis has such a welcoming nature that it makes everything a bit better :) we should meet up for coffee sometime :)
ReplyDeleteyour lovely words ring true - my husband and i move here right after our wedding, and we've had a wonderful time making the city feel like home. it can be difficult to be away from friends and family, but minneapolis has such a welcoming nature that it makes everything a bit better :) we should meet up for coffee sometime :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post and the photo of you two, so cute!
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