Here’s a not-so-little-known fact about me: I’ve lived in Chicago for almost four years now and I still return to Salt Lake City to get my hair done. At least, that’s what I tell people.

In reality my every-other-month trips back to the city I grew up in have nothing to do with my hair. (Although I do, in fact, adore my hair guy and the way he does my hair. *insert hair flip emoji*)

Those trips do, however, have everything to do with my family and friends in Salt Lake City that I left behind when I moved. Unfortunately — or fortunately, depending on your perspective — my heart is forever tethered to the city I couldn’t wait to leave, anchored by those relationships that I could never sever.

A Tale of Two Cities: Life in Chicago and Salt Lake City

I feel a constant ping of guilt. I absolutely adore Chicago and consider it my home through and through. But on days when my family gets together to tailgate for the University of Utah football games or all my friends rally together at a Halloween party (just like old times!), my heart breaks that I’m not there.

A part of me feels selfish for moving. My nieces and nephews hardly know their aunt, my family celebrations are only partially complete. (Yes, I’m saying I’m the life of the party!!) But then I look around at the magnificent city that I get to call home and my heart bursts with gratitude that I am able to live this life here in Chicago.

Life in Two Cities

The other day a friend and I were talking about how much we love the cities we live in but still return to Utah regularly because of the people there. And how not going back to see them is out of the question. I feel that I live my life in two cities, bouncing from one home to another. It’s wonderful, yes; I got to move without completely cutting off my old life. But the hardest part is the way my heart is always aching for somewhere I’m not. If I’m in Chicago, I miss my family. If I’m in Salt Lake City, I miss my big city.

The end result is a constant merry-go-round of flights back and forth, of coming and going. It’s like being in a long distance relationship with a huge group of people and counting down days until I can see them and eat at my favorite Salt Lake City restaurants — perpetually on repeat.

Best of Both Worlds

I’m lucky that I can live life in two cities. That there is a place 1,257 miles away with a spare bedroom and plenty of people with open arms ready to welcome me, and restaurants that still consider me a regular. (Thanks Lucky 13!) And as much as Utah frustrated me when I lived there, I realize now I have the best of both worlds: life in one of the greatest cities in the world balanced by life surrounded by beautiful mountains and some odd quirks that only locals understand.

Giving Thanks

So since this is the week for thanksgiving, here’s mine. Thank you to my friends and family that let me love them from afar and who sacrifice to make time for me when I’m in Salt Lake City. And thank you to everyone here in Chicago who has welcomed me into their lives with their friendship and love and helped create a life I could only dream of just years ago.

Oh, and thank you to my hairstylist Cody, who does such a wonderful job on my hair that I can use it as a plausible excuse to fly to another time zone for a hair appointment! Without you, none of this would be possible! :)

Ok, enough sappy personal crap… next week it’s back to whiskey and travel!