Little did I know how much this city would give me over 17 years.

I moved to Boston in June of 1996.  This was the first major city that I had seen up close as an adult, and at 23, I wanted it to be my city.  There isn't a word that I can find that did my intrigue justice.  Little did I know how much this city would give me over 17 years. 

It gave me the feeling that I made it even while in my tiny studio eating cheap pasta. The amount of success that I felt living in 200 square feet was all mine.  

I never owned a car when I lived in the city.  I walked, T'ed or cabbed every where.  My metabolism thanks the city and I don't think it's coincidence that I went up a size (or two) when I started to drive more frequently.

I was giddy in love in this city.  I had a lot of bad dates in this city.  I made many a walk of shame in the city.  (Sometimes I wouldn't even stay to do the walk at dawn.)   I got my heart broken and considered becoming a stalker in this city.  (Thankfully I did not.)  I did meet Mr Ching Wang on Newbury Street and knew he was going to be my husband.  Of course--I was right and 3 years later we got engaged in the Public Garden.

This city gave me a better knowledge of sports except for hockey--I still can't get into that one.  Some years, there were games that were tough to watch and have the season end with a loss.  But there was always hope for next year.  Every spring, thousand of runners descend on the city and the resulting visual of the sea of Mylar wraps is truly breathtaking.  So amazing that I, a non-athlete, always thinks that maybe I could do that too. Usually by June and a couple of good blisters, I usually let that hope quietly slide away.

My daughters were born in this city.  Ching and I specifically chose to live in Newton because we could remain very close to what the city has to offer them.  Currently their favorite offerings have to do with Disney on Ice and Duck Tours.

Last May, I had one of the best dinners with Ching and the girls.  It was a beautiful Saturday evening and we had dinner outside on the sidewalk at the Atlantic Fish Co.  Laurel, who hates fish, sat at this table, people watching, truly feeling like the cat's meow at her family dinner.  After dinner, she skipped down Boylston Street to a candy shop.  At the same time, Rachel sauntered down the sidewalk truly owning her space.  Where we had dinner was incredibly close to the first explosion.  A couple of weeks ago, I thought of this dinner and when we will go back.  Because we will go back and enjoy the best city.