Saying Goodbye to the City

Things drastically changed in Minneapolis during the summer of 2020.

Riots, lootings, shootings, fires, carjackings, became a daily occurrence and were all around us.

With no hope in the city leadership for the future, we knew our life as city slickers was coming to an end.

On June 26, we listed our newly renovated historic condo for sale and prayed for a buyer.

Stressed and sleepless described us best. We lost count of the number of nights in a row we were woke up by either gun shots or fireworks.

Gone were the days of walking to the gym or the grocery store or even the dog by myself. In fact, Tom didn’t even want me to drive in the city alone for fear of me getting carjacked.

We were leaving the city as much as possible to get a reprieve. Upon our return, the city skyline that brought us so much joy had become ominous.

Our friends and family didn’t understand our concerns as they weren’t hearing about “it” on the news. Yet, many of the buildings in the city were boarded up with expletives spray painted all over them.

I posted once on Facebook about what was happening to the city we loved and was told my “white privilege” was ugly. That was a turning point for me. I went quiet for months on social media.

It’s been almost a year since we went from being city slickers to country kickers. I am not done grieving over what has become of the city we called home. Or the life in the city we once had. However, I am less sad.

Country living wasn’t what Tom and I dreamed of all those years ago when we were first married. City life was.

Here we are though, grateful to be living in the Wisconsin woods, loving every minute in God’s country, and trusting His plan for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11