Surprise!

     You'd think that, by the age of 30, one would have grown accustomed to life's unexpected twists and turns. Perhaps it's simply because I'm a Human Being who lives on Planet Earth but, my life continues to throw curve-balls at me, promising a certain outcome if I *just* work hard enough and set an intention, only to seemingly laugh in my face and pull the rug out from under me at the last minute. I get it. It's cool. I'm down. 

     I've spent the past year in Montgomery, Texas; a beautiful town full of beautiful, kind people. However, I had spent the past 11 years in  Austin and I never expected to fully resonate with Montgomery, but I would be close to my parents and grand parents (with whom I absolutely resonate). Plus, I was here for a purpose: I came here to live with my family and go back to school. I never expected to stay and I DEFINITELY never expected to come here and just work and... hang out, which is how things have worked out for now (Life, you so funny.) On top of that, I was presented with yet another full year of the same. Working, hanging out in a place I didn't belong, and waiting for yet another full year while my school and career plans finally (maybe?) worked out. To say the least, the prospect was daunting. At least I had my family and my boyfriend, Aaron! Even though he lived an hour away from me in Houston, we were having a blast each weekend taking road trips, going on sushi dates and making each other laugh with our mutual appreciation for dumb jokes. 

     Maybe it's because he's also a Human Being and lives on Planet Earth but, as it turns out, life likes to do the same thing to Aaron that it does to me. He had found himself with an incredible, unbeatable job offer! However, there was one, very big, very cold, problem: The new opportunity was in Madison, Wisconsin, aka "Mad-town". He didn't want to leave me but, with no comparable jobs available in Houston we both were afraid he would regret not taking advantage of the opportunity. So, he asked me to go with him and try it out for a year while I wait for the stream of acceptance letters to start pouring in from PT programs across Texas (right, Life...? ... Right...?).

Surprise! I'm going. 

     

      I have never set foot in the Midwest, let alone known the first thing about Madison, WI, but once I started to learn about the town, I became very excited about the prospect of living there. 

     The Urban Dictionary describes Mad-town as:

                       

                "Madison, Wisconsin. The most liberal/kwazy, yet fun place in the country.
                            Everything is ideal in the Mad-town cept for da weather."

     OK, I realize that not everything is ideal in Mad-town, but from tons of internet research and a surprising amount of first-hand feedback, Madison sounds freaking cool. First of all, it is right smack in the middle of two large lakes. Central Madison is actually an isthmus where you can find beautiful, relatively affordable housing that is minutes from everything and nestled between two lakes.

Central Madison

     

The Statue of Liberty "buried" under frozen Lake Mendota

     Madison is the capital of  Wisconsin and home of  The University of Wisconsin. It is full of students and young professionals, with a culinary culture and music scene to match. And of course..... SNOW and CHEESE!  

    



     So, I plan to finish my last PT school prerequisite course here in Montgomery. For the next 5 weeks, I will be juggling school, a little bit of work, packing and PT observation/volunteer hours. Then, on August 23rd, Aaron and I will make the 1,200-mile drive to Madison- complete with Mowgli and Khi in the back seat and an overnight stop in Kansas City, KS to stay with Aaron's parents. 


     My plan is to continue blogging throughout this little adventure so friends and family can share this time with me. It has been a long-time dream of mine to live in a brand new city and state and it is finally happening! And just like how you'd expect, it was when and where I least expected it.