Chicago, IL

The Windy City, and a city that will hold and keep a part of me forever. I only lived here for about 6 months, but the city taught me what being a part of and living in a city means and demands. Now I know what you may be thinking “Parker, you are not one for cities, so why Chicago, one of the largest cities in the US?”. To this I would say “There was a girl and there was a thought of why not see?”. Now things did not work out how I thought they would, and people grow and change, but this city, this city holds a pride and promise that doesn’t change. I don’t regret my time here, as I think the city of Chicago has tons of things that are great and that I liked. I could probably talk forever about what the city has to offer or the pride those that are from the city have for it, but I do not have forever, and I will just be mentioning highlights below. In the end though , after reflection, it is a great city, just not “my city” and I ended up having to move because it belongs to the great people whose paths diverged from mine, and for that I had to forge my own path and place somewhere new, by myself, and for myself. You can read about that though in the Denver post when it comes out. To Chicago, I have to say thank you, and to those I had to leave behind, enjoy all it has to offer, as it is a special place that gets a bad rap when if fact it has its own charm.

Walla Walla, WA

A place so nice, you have to say it twice. The small town of Walla Walla, WA is a gem tucked in the valley of the Blue Mountain range of eastern Washington. The two years I lived here were very foundational for me and taught me more about self-reliance and myself than I can say about other places. The community here is like one that reminded me of Beavercreek, everyone is there for you and is willing to lend a hand when you need. the people make the place and that is true here, the folks that I met while here are some of the kindest I have met. The summers give you hope and the winters inspire change. Living in this portion of the PNW is such a unique experience that since moving I have come to realize home can be where you make it, and Walla Walla is no exception. It’s access to some beautiful outdoor spaces helped to scratch my adventurous itch and stoke the flame to explore more in my heart. Walla Walla truly took a piece of my heart (much like Beavercreek) that I will always feel whenever I make it back there. Please enjoy reading below about some of the gems of Walla Walla, WA.

Columbus, OH

The capitol of Ohio, and my home for four years as I pursued high education at one of the best universities in the country (My opinion, and kinda right, GO BUCKS). The friendships I made and time I spent here will be with me for the rest of my days. Beavercreek raised me, but Columbus made me. I remember a lot of great nights here (and maybe don’t remember a select few). The city itself is vibrant and has it’s own character that grows on you after being there a little bit. There is something to say when it comes to school pride and football when in Columbus. I will add a couple of my fond memories below of this great city as time goes on, but I think the city has some desirable traits that I now look for in cities I live around or in now that I have left Columbus and experienced other places.

Beavercreek, OH

When people talk about hometowns, I get the privilege of saying that my hometown is the suburbs of Beavercreek, OH. Growing up in the midwest is an experience that is a league of its own. After living in the PNW and out west and even in a large city, I would not change where I grew up. I say this knowing full well I am a man that admires and loves the mountains, that takes the mountain views as a necessity. Now you ask “Why is this Parker? What does growing up in Ohio have to offer? Don’t you say that one of the reasons you can’t live there right now is because your sense of adventure pulls you elsewhere?”. These are valid questions, and in this homage to my homeland will hopefully help to answer these questions. Growing up in suburban Ohio I think gave me one of the most idealistic childhoods and high school experiences a child could ask for. Between the four seasons, the good people, and the downright great community I don’t know where to start. I guess I will just begin. Beavercreek, Ohio is around the southwestern part of the state. You don’t Lake Erie close to have water sports, you don’t have the portion of Appalachia that the south east has, you just have each other. Maybe this point hits extra hard for me being home-schooled till high school (you probably said “that explains a lot” I hear that all the time). I feel like not having an easily available outlet for a lot of the extreme or rugged outdoor sports is what gave growing up there its charm. Summer nights were spent playing sports, at parks with friends, or settling in with the family to watch a movie to end the day. Ohio gets four seasons, like actual seasons. Springs are wet, but produce some of the best flowers. Summers are hot, sunny, and filled with tons of cool summer evenings. Fall produces some of the best foliage and feelings of comfort I can’t even explain. Lastly, the Winters are cold and long and dreary, but help to build your character and give you appreciation for the community that surrounds you. Some of my best friendships come from Beavercreek, Ohio, and my high school years bring back feelings of being seen while I was searching for myself (still am and grow every day). I think growing up here also helped to instill an appreciation for the natural world that I bring with me wherever I live or visit. I did not take the PNW beauty for granted, or the bright lights of Chicago, and I certainly do not and will not get used to the sights of the Rockies from where I am in Denver. I think no matter where I go, where I live, Beavercreek will always feel like a home when I am back. I will probably ad more to this, such as the outlet malls, ice cream shops, or local parks to visit or try, but for now I wanted to write a small piece for the town that has a small piece of my heart.