Running trails, bikes, and rails

I am sitting on a stoop writing this blog. It's been a day. A day I needed, a day I was partially dreading and a day of the truest emotions I've been able to comprehend for awhile.

My favorite place in the world. 

I woke up this morning after one too many beers and thought to myself: Hey this is life. You only have a few days left in this city so get up and just go. So I did.

Can you understand why...

I went to one of my favorite spots for breakfast and then headed to my old running trail for to meet up with my old running buddy and see what was new. So much had changed, and so much was the same. We reminisced about all our past memories and crazy experiences of the area as we caught up on where we both were now. I took pictures along the way to remind myself how incredible this city is. 

Little Bridges 

Then I headed to the university area and walked around Dinkytown noticing how the new parts of it reminded me so much of everything I hated in Indonesia.

35-W bridge

I rode my bike with the intention of just driving past my old place and continuing on, but something stopped me. There was so much more in this neighborhood than I ever knew. I started to remember things and I zigzaged up and down streets. I found myself becoming nostalgic about the bike path I took to work. 

Mill City 

The house where I had my first drink. The place where I almost broke up with my first boyfriend after too much whiskey. The place with the double kegger. The door he snuck out of. The alley I smiled too much in.  The house where I won flip cup. The place my friend did her first keg stand. The spot where I went on that random date. The places of first kisses. The house where I lost my glasses...and underwear. The coffeehouse I studied in. The dog that would run up to that fence to meet me on my afternoon runs. The spot where I realized my ankle was seriously hurt and I wouldn't be able to run the half marathon. The place where I did my processing. The place where I fell apart. The place where I knew I wanted to be whole again. The place I made dreams I will never fulfill. The place I made new dreams. The sidewalk where I told my mom I was moving abroad. The swing I fell in love with songs on. The place I cried when I didn't know if I could leave. 

Beautiful view of the city 

Life is made up of these moments. These little joys, pains, excitements, regrets, and lessons. And when you put them all together you create a life. It's cliché to say that college years are the best and most life changing ones of your life,but in a small way I think it is true. You grow, not always forward, but always toward the person you are meant to be. And it's cliche but true to say, that everything works out how it should. 

We absolutely tried to walk across...and then decided we needed a few whiskeys first

I owe all of you who joined me on this journey so much. Thank you for the memories, the smiles , the heartbreak, the runs, the campfires, drunken nights, and lessons. 

You ask me where I'm from well this is where I'm from...

What compels me to go from this place? Why must I leave? Life here is so much and so good and feels right. 

But I love my life abroad too, and I'm so excited to start a new chapter of myself.  Don't worry Minneapolis. You are my one true love and I will be back for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time biking around your bike highways