Dear Richmond,

To be honest, I’m not entirely sure how to write this letter. Do I start with what I’m thankful for or with what I’ll miss most? Should I even start this letter to Richmond? Should it be to the state of Virginia as a whole with a few paragraphs specifically for Richmond? (Because Harrisonburg is part of my story, too.)

Because Virginia has always been the constant in my life. Because I was only allowed to apply to in state schools for college, with a single exception. But if that exception had come true, if my dream of Princeton had really happened, how would I look at Virginia?

Because I’ve never lived anywhere except Virginia. When I did leave for college I decided I had had enough of Richmond and I was ready to get out, I wanted something new. But that quickly faded when I realized Harrisonburg (bless that place) isn’t much of a city, but more of a college town. JMU was really the only thing there for me and I felt a longing for Richmond I had never experienced before. I proclaimed through tears that Harrisonburg would never be my home, I would never make JMU my home. It was always and forever Richmond.

And then three years later, I graduated and had to leave Harrisonburg. I had to move out of my college apartment and leave the Shenandoah Valley and the mountains I grew to love, even though I promised I never would. And I left a piece of my heart there. Now I know that wherever I go, JMU will always be a place where I feel home, no matter how long I’ve been gone.

But even during those four years spent in the mountains, I still considered Richmond to be my home. And after graduation, while I thought about other cities to move to, I ultimately ended up back in Richmond.

At first I was bitter; I wanted another clean start like JMU had given me. I didn’t want to be living with my parents again because that felt like I was regressing. Then life happened the way it usually does, some things got messy and I realized I needed to still be in Richmond. There were still a few things Richmond needed to teach me before I could leave.

But now I feel ready to leave Richmond’s arms.

So, Richmond, thanks…

for helping my parents raise me to be the woman I am today.

for being the perfect location: two hours from the beach, two hours from the mountains, two hours from D.C. and far enough below the Mason-Dixon line for me to say I grew up in the south.

for having all four seasons and sometimes letting me experience what feels like all of them in one day.

for also being home to the nicest, friendliest, most caring people I’ve ever met.

for cultivating art throughout the entire city with the Richmond Mural Project.

for being home to the Flying Squirrels, Go Nutz! (But originally being home to the Richmond Brave’s).

for The Fan and its charming rows of houses that I’ve never seen anywhere else.

for the music scene. Thanks to you I’ve seen Parachute (too many times to count), Ben Folds, Bright Eyes, Andy Grammer, Plain White T’s, The Head and the Heart, Corey Smith, SmashMouth, Wicked, The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q.

for the history that happened here.

for everything about the James River- from Belle Isle where I spent every birthday from ages 15-21 to its rapids to its parks and to its sunsets.

for being a comfortable size to grow up in, not too big and not too small.

for helping me realize it’s okay to grow and change, just like the city has over the years.

for gluten free donuts (thank you Sugar Shack!)

for Virginia peanuts.

for Saturday morning farmer’s markets.

for all the street festivals and parades that have become tradition (looking at you, Watermelon Festival and Monument’s Easter parade).

for my favorite Christmas tradition every year, The Nutcracker with the Richmond Symphony and the Richmond Ballet.

for tacky light tours also being a favorite tradition.

for the VMFA and exhibits such as Picasso and Chihuly and Saturday Salutations with Project Yoga Richmond.

for Shockoe Slip Yoga, a different type of home I will miss so dearly.

for $2 movies at the Byrd.

for Rainbow Cookies. Because even though I can’t eat them anymore, I will forever remember how excited I was to go to Ukrop’s as a child (or really any time before becoming gluten free).

for teaching me how to parallel park.

for all the amazing gluten free restaurants.

for the humidity, because if I can handle Richmond’s humidity, I can handle ANY humidity.

for be able to live downtown without rent costing an arm and a leg.

for there never being a line at security in the airport.

for my first real job and my amazing coworkers.

And lastly, 

Thank you for my amazing family and friends who have shown me constant support throughout my entire life and who help/have helped make Richmond home.

I will miss you, Richmond.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”