Sacramento, I have had a love affair with you for more than 10 years. We have had our ups and downs. I can remember the confusion of one way streets and frustration of expensive parking tickets. I have champagne toasted presidential elections in my memory bank, and my own exchanged matrimonial vows inside your city limits. I have strayed away and come back to you. I can walk down most any street and smile thinking about a moment here and a conversation there. At the capital alone, I have picnicked, protested, strolled, ridden my bike, lit candles, listened to music, ran, and photographed and strolled. On your streets I have experienced first kisses, heart aches, hand holding, belly laughs, and complete solitude. I have had the pleasure of attending soft openings and pre parties, I have said goodbye at final shows, last hurrahs. I have dined, drank, and danced at nearly every dive bar, boutique, coffee house, and music venue. I have witnessed more art- music, paintings, photography, dance, theater, comedy, than I could have ever thought possible. I have also ran a half marathon in your streets, cheered for baseball players, basketball players, paddle boarded, skim boarded, floated down your river, and ridden my bike over what feels like every inch of you. I have seen the changing of times. The rise of crime, the increasing restrictions (don't get me started on what Second Saturday used to be like...); I have also been witness to the rise of artisans, the relentless belief and passion of entrepreneurs striving to make this city better, all unwilling to have their visions dashed. I have helped to support, to collaborate, to create, to paint, to give to this city. I have learned to be in this space.
Sacramento, I love you.
At the same time, I am ready to move on. To create new memories. I am ready for new explorations. I am eager to make new connections and feel that same joy that comes with discovery of new, of different of unique. I am ready to be introduced to people and not know their history, to not know where they went to school, who they dated, what band they are in, or what restaurant they invested in. I want to make a home in a new city- with a fresh outlook. I want to see things for the first time, to meet people and learn their story, their experiences, without any preconceived notions. I am ready for more.
With a heavy heart I say goodbye to you Sacramento, and I thank you for the love, the smiles, the laughs, the memories. I will always be one of your biggest fans, but the time has come for us to move on.
With love,
Morgan
Ps- what is so clear to me is that while Sacramento is pretty with its trees, River, Victorians, bike trails, and such- what really makes it so darn special, are the people who reside in it. I can't quite say goodbye to you yet, so instead I choose to say goodbye to the city. It's just easier that way.
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