My family loves Kansas. It isn't perfect, by any means, but it has been perfect for us. When we moved here from Fargo, we were not excited. I remember feeling so frustrated that we were moving. I was an extremely awkward 12-year old middle-schooler and the last thing I wanted to do was have to make a whole new group of friends.
Here is some photographic proof that we really didn't want to leave:
I think Melanie is particularly convincing and Laura looks a lot like Will in the picture, but I digress. :)
Over time, Kansas became our home and now we love it. In some ways it seems funny, because there isn't anything particularly amazing about the Sunflower state, and isn't all that different from the state we left behind. Both are landlocked, have no mountains, get really hot & humid in the summer, really cold & snowy in the winter (Fargo wins for more snow and much colder obviously, but we do get a fair amount of snow in KS too), and are home to no major attractions. In short, they are not popular vacation destinations.
I remember in college, trying to explain to friends why I liked being from Kansas so much, besides the pseudo-alliteration my roommate, also named Carrie, and I utilized when we would meet new people and we would tell them we were Carrie and Carrie from Kansas (which was quite effective, by the way). Many people would ask if was weird to live where there were no mountains or water nearby. I would usually tell them that even though it isn't necessarily the greatest place to vacation, it is a great place to be from, but the question always bothered me a bit. Why should I have to explain why I like being from Kansas? When I think of Kansas I don't think about what it doesn't have.
As an adult some things are easier to see: low cost of living, relatively safe, good schools, lots of god fearing, good people, etc. But I can also better see that my parents did a good job of teaching us to "bloom where we were planted" and to "make the most of things." I certainly don't think my San Diego-born mother ever thought she'd live far from the beach, or that my Dad, from Southeast Idaho dreamed he'd be living far from his family and the mountains. But they did and they made the best of it. I rarely heard them complain about all that Kansas was lacking. Instead we made ourselves right at home in Kansas and now it is a part of us.
These days TJ and I are living in Kansas, in the same city my family moved to 15 years ago, no less. And while it definitely wasn't our original plan, we are glad to be here. We lived in Springfield for 2 1/2 years and we loved it there. We have really enjoyed living here the past year too. I hope that we will continue to be happy here and wherever we end up living over the course of lives. Because really, liking where you live doesn't have to depend on mountains or beaches or cool historical sites or even who lives next door to you. Your home is as good as you make it. So thanks to my parents for teaching me that, and Happy Birthday to Kansas!
5 comments:
I remember being so mad at Melanie for not looking legitimately upset that we were moving. But now that I look back at this picture, it's pretty darn funny. :)
My family had a similar story with Texas - never planned on living there but grew to love it. Hopefully we'll be able to feel the same way wherever we end up.
Well said. I liked that. I must confess though... I've only driven through Kansas. :) Maybe it's time to pay a visit.
Haha Emily I had don't remember you being mad at me. I remember asking mom specifically if I could do my "pitiful look," and she said it was ok:).
Good post, Carrie. Kansas is my favorite state. Kansas my home state is great!
Yay for Kansas! When my parents first told us they were moving to here all of us were pretty baffled, not having given the state of Kansas much thought. But they love it, and I love it. We're glad to be here.
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