Mary Richards and Me

I hate the leaving home part of moving to a new (old) city

Posted on 1/28/2010 at 9:14:23 AM

In a few hours, I’ll be on a plane from Chicago to Washington, DC. In a few days, I’ll be moving into my new apartment in Eastern Market with four other John Jay girls for the next three months – and then starting my internship with Americans United for Life (AUL) one day later! I’m definitely excited to fly, move, and start the next phase of my life, but I also know I’ll miss my family tremendously. Especially since, believe it or not, I think 3 months will be the longest time I’ve ever gone without seeing my mom! Maybe we’ve gone 2.5 months but definitely no longer!

It has been such a blessing to be home for a whole month (actually 5 weeks!) – the longest period of time since summer 2008 – without any huge responsibilities, expectations, or pressures weighing on me. I have been able to spend some serious time with my wonderful parents and my  two youngest sisters, Lara (13, almost 14) and Maria (12), two of the most incredible young girls on the planet. I also saw both of my college-aged sisters, Elena (20), before she left for her exciting J-term in Oxford, and Caroline (18). I even got to meet some of Caroline’s fabulous new friends (who are now my new siblings since we “adopted” them as honorary Forsythes) from Hillsdale College where she is currently flourishing in her freshman year. I’ve had several opportunities to catch up with good friends in person, on the phone, and via skype. I’ve watched some fun movies, read some great books, and actually felt myself relax – mentally, physically, emotionally – for the first time in a very, very, terribly long time. But while I’m sad to leave home and family (some of my bestest friends in the world!), at the same time, I’m still super pumped for the unknown surprises, joys, and challenges that await me in Washington.

This move makes me identify even more with Mary Richards, though not completely since I’ve actually been to and lived in the DC metro area before this semester whereas Minneapolis is a completely new experience for Mary at the start of season 1. This past summer, I interned for The New Atlantis at the Ethics and Public Policy Center while living in northern Virginia and the best thing about returning to a city is that I have already made several incredible friends whom I’ve missed during the past 6 months and with whom I’m excited to reconnect. And, to top it off, this time I’m living only one metro stop from Capitol Hill! What could be better?

So I have no idea what the next three months hold for me, but, trusting God to carry me through, I’m ready to start the adventure!