I get this question all the time and always dread it because there’s no quick answer to answer where I’m actually from. I’ve learned to pick an answer based on the person asking. If they’re from Colorado, I’ll usually say I went to school in Boulder. If they’re from the Midwest, I’ll tell them I was born in Minnesota. If they have a Boston accent, I’ll be excited to say my family is originally from Cape Cod.
The truth is I haven’t lived anywhere more than four years, moving every few years growing up (not a military brat, more of a corporate one – my dad was a regional sales manager for Hershey Chocolate. Yes, I got as much free chocolate as I wanted growing up.) Then I continued to move for my job after college. So I’m not really from anywhere in particular, but a lot of places shaped who I am. Here’s the whole story:
I was born in Burnsville, Minnesota in the middle of a spring snowstorm! My parents had just moved from Boston for the first time in their lives. I spent a couple of years there as an infant before the family moved to Buffalo, New York. My memories from these first couple spots are pretty sparse because after first grade my family moved back to Minnesota, this time to Eden Prairie. Then came fifth grade and we packed up and moved to Naperville, Illinois. Finally, in the middle of my freshman year, we moved to Mesa, Arizona.
Looking to escape the heat, I found CU Boulder & lived in that gorgeous little city for nearly four years. This was my favorite because it was the first time in my life I got to choose where I was going. I graduated in December early then went and spent my last official semester studying abroad in Perugia, Italy. (Ok, I lied – this was my favorite! Four months of pizza, pasta & wine!)
After running around Europe I got my first job in Idaho Falls, Idaho where I spent two years before moving to Salt Lake City, Utah for my next job in news. I never expected to move back to Minnesota, but when Minneapolis called I figured why not give Minnesota a third shot. I was there for almost four years before the opportunity came to move back to Colorado.
So why am I always wearing a Red Sox hat?
My whole family is from Massachusetts: My dad’s side is from Cape Cod & my mom is from Attleboro, then they met while living in Boston. With all the places I lived growing up Cape Cod was my constant. We spent a few months there every summer, then when I hit high school I started doing summer jobs & summer school on the Cape, too. Funny enough, I think collectively I’ll spent more time there than any other place I’ve lived.
I’ve been back in Colorado for two years now and really hoping this is the time I break that four-year mark – fingers crossed!
