A Love Letter to Dublin, Ohio

Dear Dublin,

Writing this is a lot harder than I expected. When we first met a little over three years ago, on a frigid late Saturday in November, I wasn’t sure what to think of you. I was hesitant to start a new relationship with you because you looked very different than what I knew for 37 years in the Chicago suburbs. You were far away from my family and friends. You were in a different time zone! You weren’t “home.”

But just a couple of months later, I took the plunge with you, Dublin. I moved to you during the Polar Vortex of winter 2014. It was exciting to get to know you, even though you might recall I spent a lot of time crying in those early months (or year, but who’s counting). When I stopped working after 15 years, became a full-time mom to one and quickly found out I was pregnant with twins, my life looked nothing like it once did. Here I was in a new relationship with you, away from my support system, and my life was changing at Mach speed! But wow, did I get lucky with you. You supported me in ways I never imagined.

I introduced to you to family and friends that came to visit. I showed you off. I beamed with pride over you. Because Dublin—you are pretty special. You are smart, you are friendly. You are green. Really green! And beautiful. You have so much to offer. And the truth is, I became a real mom when I met you.

Through top-notch kiddy music classes at your Recreation Center, fun toddler/preschool movement classes at Dublin Dance Centre & Gymnastics, and two and a half wonderful years at Dublin Community Preschool, I met many new friends and started to feel more and more comfortable with you. I also found a spectacular group of like-minded mamas in the MOMs Club of Dublin- Central, and spent countless weeknights and weekends in the street and in backyards getting to know our fantastic neighbors.

Then there was the “nanny” that quickly became a friend. She helped me keep my sanity by providing much needed “me” time while she took wonderful care of my girls (and dogs). And in some crazy twist of fate, I found a friend soulmate that went to high school one town over from me, but we never met. Dublin, you’re the reason our paths crossed. While some relationships have flourished more than others, all of them have taught me something. I’m grateful for all the people I’ve met through you who opened up to me and treated me like an old friend when I needed it most.

So now comes the hard part, Dublin. As much as I love you, it’s time for me to say “see you later.” You were all I never knew I needed or wanted. You surprised me in the best ways. When I first met you, I didn’t think I’d become attached to you. But here we are, three years later, and I’m crying again knowing my time with you is coming to an end. I will miss you and the special friends I’ve come to count on for laughs, straight talk, fun nights out, and play dates (to name a few), more than I thought possible.

Even though I’m moving back home to live near cherished friends and family, I will always consider you to be my home, too. You are where I expanded my little family by two (Buckeyes!), expanded my friend circle, and expanded my comfort zone. But I know that no matter how long we might be apart, you will welcome me again and again with open arms (and a new freeway infrastructure and amazing new downtown to visit)!

Dublin, you have grown and changed by bounds since we first met…and I have, too.

With love,

Cindy

The businesses/groups mentioned in this post did not pay me to endorse them. I am just a happy “customer.”