tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post1553618317073451271..comments2024-03-26T02:25:58.003-05:00Comments on Little House in Chicago: Missing VirginiaTesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11095694388830565339noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-20382788077822371852013-12-05T08:22:55.473-06:002013-12-05T08:22:55.473-06:00Oh Virginia, how I miss it so! I can empathize wit...Oh Virginia, how I miss it so! I can empathize with your sentiments, except that I spent my first 22 years there. :) Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08677475332655361040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-65152627287359509642013-11-13T11:58:26.913-06:002013-11-13T11:58:26.913-06:00I had a feeling you would know just what I meant. ...I had a feeling you would know just what I meant. Miss you too, and looking forward to seeing you at New Year's!Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797493386545660391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-81432204493022135482013-11-12T22:20:46.593-06:002013-11-12T22:20:46.593-06:00I can relate so well to this post. Miss you!I can relate so well to this post. Miss you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-10015700786581375142013-11-06T10:56:32.354-06:002013-11-06T10:56:32.354-06:00Yes! Tiny and provincial! Exactly! I loved that sm...Yes! Tiny and provincial! Exactly! I loved that small-town feel. I definitely miss it in Chicago!<br /><br />You bring up some great points about the benefits of living here—stuff I hadn't even thought of like the cheaper flights. Thanks for helping me look on the bright side. :) I know eventually I will like it, I figure I just need to give it time.<br /><br />Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797493386545660391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-9760649207271138412013-11-06T10:47:55.617-06:002013-11-06T10:47:55.617-06:00Hi M! Yes, I did grow up near Chicago, but my fami...Hi M! Yes, I did grow up near Chicago, but my family lives out in the suburbs and I only came into the city pretty rarely. Then I went away for college, so the last time I really lived in Chicago was when I was 17! <br /><br />I'm totally with you on the fantasies about traveling the world. I had elaborate plans to live in different European countries and all over the U.S. Then this funny little thing called marriage happened, haha. But like you said, I've come to realize that this is for the best—family is the one thing you can always count on, and at the end of the day relationships are what matter most. I am confident that moving back home was the right decision, but I sure do miss Virginia a lot anyway!Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797493386545660391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-75472253022616972992013-11-05T19:44:07.201-06:002013-11-05T19:44:07.201-06:00Did you grow up in the Chicago area? Or just your ...Did you grow up in the Chicago area? Or just your family lives here now? It really is a great place once you get used to it. :p<br /><br />As a teenager, I always used to fantasize about living the rest of my life having adventures all around the world. But as I get older, becoming more and more sure of wanting to be married with a family, I've grown to love the idea of having adventures right here in Chicagoland so that I (and any family I may have) could be close to my parents and other family. That's really what matters in the long run anyways! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-71492718697508680582013-11-05T18:17:21.927-06:002013-11-05T18:17:21.927-06:00Aww Tess! Virginia misses you too! It's funny ...Aww Tess! Virginia misses you too! It's funny how you're missing so many things about here, when I often think about things I miss about Chicago :) You can take public transit more places, cost of living is lower, better restaurants, midwest weather, museums, the lake, it's easier and cheaper to fly just about anywhere from there, etc. But now I have grown to <i>love</i> DC too (I have to admit I'm enjoying our rather temperate autumn-but I will miss the snow!). Navigating Chicago is so easy once you hardwire yourself with the direction of the lake. The city is enormous, though, and that's what can make it difficult...DC seems so tiny and provincial after living there.JoAnnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01904747145698764494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-28672914466500580082013-11-05T16:58:38.657-06:002013-11-05T16:58:38.657-06:00Thanks, Michelle! I had a feeling you would know j...Thanks, Michelle! I had a feeling you would know just what I mean. :) Former Virginians unite!Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797493386545660391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-44420618243487468912013-11-05T13:35:14.879-06:002013-11-05T13:35:14.879-06:00Oh, Tess! I know just what you mean. My heart is...Oh, Tess! I know just what you mean. My heart is aching to get back out to my "home". I am sending you a big hug. Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14234349572071260254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-63711740450718477532013-11-05T12:59:57.180-06:002013-11-05T12:59:57.180-06:00Thanks, Anonymous. That is a great point about adm...Thanks, Anonymous. That is a great point about admiring people for small, daily acts of virtue rather than for being famous or writing books. The ladies I knew in DC all had families, too, and were great wives and moms as well as being professionally successful, and I think that's a big part of why I admired them. But you are so right that what matters most is that quiet virtue and unseen self-sacrifice. I am lucky to know some great women here in Chicago who are like that, and I do hope to emulate them too!Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797493386545660391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-77447685796242949662013-11-05T12:41:33.510-06:002013-11-05T12:41:33.510-06:00It is normal to miss what you were comfortable wit...It is normal to miss what you were comfortable with. There is so much to see and do around Chicago and the suburbs (Northwest Indiana too!). As you move into a different season of your life, when you have your little ones....you will realize the people you admire are the ones who make the little sacrifices for their children every day!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-34538656459368708672013-11-05T12:16:44.842-06:002013-11-05T12:16:44.842-06:00I know this feeling so well (New York instead of D...I know this feeling so well (New York instead of DC). I miss it so very much for a lot of the same sorts of reasons you miss DC/VA. I admire your courage to trust in God's plan for you! It will get better!<br /><br />On another note, it's very timely of you to mention Virginia because my husband and I are most likely going to relocate to Charlottesville in another few months. We're actually flying there tomorrow to house-shop and then I'm going up to DC to see my parents. So it's encouraging to me to hear you talk so positively about VA (different part of the state, but still!). I wish you were still there and we could meet in person! :)Kate Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09960902615430592468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-81143843103790687842013-11-05T12:09:30.303-06:002013-11-05T12:09:30.303-06:00Stephanie, thank you so much for your sweet note. ...Stephanie, thank you so much for your sweet note. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. My sister also mentioned the Chicago card—unfortunately CTA is in the process of switching to this new Ventra card thing, but then the Ventra got recalled, but they are not taking Chicago cards and basically the whole thing is a huge mess. I think once that gets sorted out I will gain a lot more respect for Chicago. :) Thanks for the tips about St. Ignatius and Chicago being a grid. Like you said, I think I just need to give it some time, and eventually I will feel at home here!<br /><br />Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797493386545660391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-989033992988999073.post-17039404144264030142013-11-05T11:54:12.071-06:002013-11-05T11:54:12.071-06:00Don't lose heart! Give it time. As far as publ...Don't lose heart! Give it time. As far as public transit goes you should seriously consider the Chicago Plus Card. You won't ever have to carry cash. ;) Also there is an awesome Catholic college prep high school that I've heard is the best in the city (St. Ignatius on Roosevelt right by Holy Family parish). I will say some prayers for you and I hope Chicago begins to feel like home to you (but I totally understand what you mean about publishing and blogging reactions haha!). Oh also - Chicago is a grid so you will have it down in no time. :)Stephanie Kunghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09586337442160000738noreply@blogger.com