20/20

Brian and I, over a year ago, made the road trip from my parent’s home in Kansas up to Cleveland which would be our adopted hometown for the following six months. On our way up, we heard a Bowling for Soup song on the radio called, “Ohio (Come Back to Texas)” and all we could do was laugh at the irony in this lyrical tribute to our lives:

“She said she needed a break,
A little time to think.
But then she went to Cleveland
With some guy named Leelan (Brian)
That she met at the bank (Matitto’s).

There's nothing wrong with Ohio…
Except the snow and the rain.
I really like Drew Carey
And I'd love the Scene, the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame!

So when you're done doing whatever,
And when you're through seeing whoever,
You know Denton (Dallas) County will be right here waiting for you....

Come back to Texas!
It's just not the same since you went away,
Before you lose your accent
And forget all about the Lonestar State!
There's a seat for you at the rodeo,
And I've got every slow dance saved.
Besides the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway.

I think I made a mistake.
It's not that easy to take.
She went to make a deposit,
Then she cleaned out her closet
Guess I'll sit here and wait.

For her to come back home,
It shouldn't take very long,
I bet she misses the sunrise,
And Mrs. Baird's fruit pies but I could be wrong…

Troy Aikmen (Abbie) wants you back.
Willie Nelson (Pat Green) wants you back.
NASA (haha, yeah right) wants you back.
And the Bush twins want you back.
And Pantera (Pokey-o’s) wants you back.
And Blue Bell wants you back.

I got a premonition
I'm taking a petition
And the whole state's gonna sign!!”

**rephrased just a bit.

I laughed because otherwise I would have cried. Moving to Cleveland was a very difficult time, a huge leap of faith for me. I left behind my family, my friends, my life. I was very lonely and discouraged by the difficulty in finding a job and in building relationships.

But that was then. And hindsight, as always, is 20/20. Now I can see the tremendous blessing that was my time in Cleveland, Ohio. Brian and I learned to lean on each other, and to support one another through both our shared and our separate difficulties.  We took advantage of the beautiful summer and now, being in a near record-breaking hot summer in Dallas, we appreciate it all the more. This is why I have created a Top-10 list about our six months in Cleveland. The best parts about it, the parts I appreciate and yes, even miss, just a little.

10. The “Becca” Bridge--The view from my condo overlooked downtown and there was this beautiful bridge across the Cuyahoga River that I deemed as mine because I loved looking at it in all lights of the day, and used to run across it on my runs with Frog Dog.

9.  Browns, and Indians Games—the only place I ever lived that I could walk from my house to watch the MLB and the NFL, I could have walked to the Cavs arena too, but who wanted to go there after “The Decision” last summer?!

8. Buffalo mac n cheese at Barley House—so, so good.

7. Sailing on Lake Erie with Brian’s co-workers & rowing on the Cuyahoga with our crew team, not to mention winning our regatta!

6. The beautiful metro parks—we biked and hiked and explored all summer and fall.

5. Experiencing fall for the first time since 2^nd grade & taking advantage of the gorgeous summer weather
4. My job at Cleveland Magazine—I absolutely loved what I did, and everyone I worked with. Events at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and at 688 were such great experiences.

3. Junior League friends/ Dg Friends/ Christia—miss you girls!!

2. Gaining the smallest/ cutest member of the family—FrogDog! Seriously the best dog ever.

1. Being so close to Michigan, getting to know the Tochman/ Hogge side of my family and all of our date trips to MSU!! Go Green!

Cleveland was a season, a quick six months of my life. But looking back, I learned so much, met so many wonderful people, and really grew as an individual. I am so thankful for that time, and look back on it very fondly. I miss a lot of the advantages of living up there—especially weekends on the lake!

Now I realize that that time with Brian, his parents, our friends and co-workers was a tremendous blessing; a gift. I am SO thankful to be in Dallas, and appreciate it so much more after leaving, but will never regret my time away. And as hardships and times of loneliness and despair arise in the future (which they inevitably will), I will remember my time in Cleveland and how much it now means to me. The lessons that were so hard and difficult to learn at the time, are now sweet remembrances of how far I have come, and are instilled in me as I continue to grow and to learn.

Hindsight is 20/20 and now I am able to thank God for that time, for how it has shaped me now, and for how it has prepared me for my future.