Being raised in Downers Grove, I attended school through college and later worked in your wonderful area. In my 20s, I decided to get away from the Chicago winters and settled in southern California, where I got married and raised four children. Several years ago we moved to Las Vegas because my husband is a musician and we found this the best place to find work.
I am now in my 60s and I can truthfully say there has not been one day in my life that I haven’t longed to be back in the Chicago area. Having traveled extensively over the years, there is no doubt that Chicago is “where it is.”
There is a difference in the people in various regions. I miss the Chicago people–the honesty, friendliness, pride in workmanship and down-to-earth qualities.
I miss the gorgeous lakefront, Michigan Avenue and all of the wonderful things to do. I miss the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, Buckingham Fountain, great restaurants and first-class everything. I even miss the snow.
So all of you people lucky enough to live in Chicago, please realize this: You have the best schools in the world, the best place to raise children, the best everything.
The grass is not greener on the other side, no matter how it appears, and once you leave, it is difficult, sometimes impossible, to return.
I only wish somebody had warned me of this many years ago. It would have saved me all of these years of regret.
