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Country and City

Another great weekend out of the city! As much as I love the hustle and bustle of living in the middle of Boston, the best city in the world, what I love even more is getting the chance to leave every once in a while...or every weekend. The city is awesome during the week. I'm never bored, I always have something to do or somewhere to go, I love nothing more than running around the Charles and cycling to Weston, and the people watching is fantastic.
It's funny though, I know I live in Boston, but sometimes I forget. I read and heard about Boston all my life - mostly through American history classes - and it always seemed so foreign, almost exotic. But being from Missouri, almost everything is. Sometimes I have to sit back and really think about how I actually live here, in this amazing place filled with so much history and culture. But that's what the city will do to you, it makes you forget to appreciate things like that.
Mostly because you're walking so fast all you can think about its trying to catch your breath and avoid getting pummeled by cyclists.
Which is why I love getting out to Western Mass. Chris and I cycled, sat outside on the porch all morning watching the dog chase invisible rodents and bugs, watched movies, ran, swam, and just hung out - it ALMOST felt like summer.
And even though my bike broke ten miles into our 45 mile bike ride, causing me to be in a low gear the ENTIRE ride, which basically felt like I had to throw my entire body weight and every single muscle fiber into every single crank, I still had an awesome time seeing the countryside from Dr. Jones' saddle.
By the end of my visit's to Chris' house, I'm hot, sweaty, exhausted, dirty, sore, and my clothes wreak. My hair is greasy and it takes me hours to get the dirt from under my nails. Doctor Jones is always a mess and I have a billion things to unpack - including running shoes, hiking shoes, five fingers, rock climbing gear, swimming gear, and bike gear. I'm starving but too tired to make anything, which results in me spooning out peanut butter and collapsing on my bed.
Oh and I'm incredibly happy.

When I first moved to Boston there was no doubt in my mind I was going to be a city girl. I was convinced. I had the hair cut, the clothes, the shoes, and i was ready to attain the attitude. And I gave it a good shot, I really did. And I think I did a good job. But honestly, nothing makes me happier than when I'm on the road out of the heart of Boston...which makes me think maybe it took me living in the city to realize how much I love living out of it. It's just I'd rather run around barefoot and mountain bike than take the T and live directly above the world's loudest dump trucks.
But I do have to say the only thing worse than living in the city is living in the suburbs - where you could say, "The white house with the pillars and 2 car garage" to someone and literally describe every single house in a ten mile radius. That would be my absolute worst form of hell. You get the worst of both worlds: the dullness of the countryside with the bustle and noise of the city.
The thing I miss the most is Miniwanca in Shelby, Michigan. There was nothing better than living THAT close to nature. To go to sleep every night after sitting on the beach watching the sunset. Only to make up in the morning covered in the dew of the morning, go for a cycle through the country roads, and then hike to the top of a sand dune and stand in awe of lake michigan. Then go directly to the other side of the street and sail the entire day on Stony lake. Days like that are worth living for.
I think it took this year for me to really realize who I am and what I want - thank God I finally figured this one out. It took forever!
It will probably change tomorrow...but until then....

love love love,
me

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