Ode to Arizona

As many, some or none of you who faithfully read this blog may recall, a little over 6 months ago, I wrote a post entitled "Ode to Utah." You can find it here:
http://www.domesticatedm.blogspot.com/2011/11/ode-to-utah.html

This post was inspired by our somewhat recent, and even somewhat spontaneous decision to bag the idea of business school, and go to medical school instead. With, then 22, applications in around the country, I wrote this post as a farewell to Utah, seeing as I saw the odds of us getting into the University of Utah about 1 in a million.

Little did we know it was more like 1 in a billion. .... and we were not that one. Now it's seven months later, and this week I packed the first two of our boxes (first two of how many hundreds I don't want to know) pointing our faces and hearts towards Glendale Arizona, home of Midwestern University. For the record, Midwestern was not one of the first 22, nor was it one of the first 27, but when our number of applications (and dollar bills associated with said applications) rose to 33, Midwestern was included. And it was there and only there that we received a letter of admission a few weeks ago.

It was not our first, second, tenth, or twenty-ninth choice, but we clearly see now it is the only place we were meant to be. And we are thrilled and excited for our new adventure.

So goodbye Utah will be official come sometime in mid to late July, and we'll head for the south. As a follow up to my original post and as a tribute to the future.... here it is: the top ten reasons to be excited about living in Glendale, AZ. (In no apparent order).

Reason 1: The land of endless summer

Sunshine does wonders for me, and I've never seen it shine so brightly as it does in Arizona. Eli can't get enough of it either. In the winter time we both start to feel so cooped up and we are both a lot happier when we can get out of doors. Goodbye heavy coats and mittens and snow for two years! I may miss you eventually... but it will take some time.

Of course they say that the summer months are as miserably hot as our winter months are miserably cold. I say that I have been there in June, and I really didn't think it was so bad. Of course I spent all day every day lying by the Marriott pool while the help brought around cool towels and fresh fruit. But hey... we'll have a pool in our complex right? :)

Reason 2: Orange and Lemon trees

This may seem very normal to Otto, but in my mind, oranges and lemons only grow on trees in lands of tropical fantasy. Which means I am moving to tropical fantasy!!! WOOOHOOO!

My in-laws and my husband's grandparents have a nearly endless supply of fresh lemons and oranges that make fresh lemonade and orange juice almost year round. YUMMM!!

Reason 3: The Grand Canyon

Do you know that as many times as I have visited Arizona, I have never seen the Grand Canyon? This is on my list of top things that must be done when I move there.

Reason 4: Midwestern University

The process of applying for 33 medical schools has been an exciting, but challenging one for our family. Months of waiting for good news tried our patience. When we finally were asked to interview at only a few of the many schools we had hoped to hear back from, I was surprised and bothered at how unsettled I felt during the interview process.

The morning of our interview at Midwestern, as we drove onto campus I immediately felt a sense of peace about it. The more time we spent there, the more I felt calm and at home. I could see myself moving there and being happy there, and I could see Otto getting the education he needed to accomplish his life goals. (Which include, running for president, inventing a cure for cancer, and saving the world, in no apparent order). It was no surprise to me when Otto received his acceptance; I already felt as though it would be our new home.

After a lot of thought and research, we decided to live in the on campus housing. While initially I was afraid it would feel like living in the dorms again, I quickly decided that it was our best option for a lot of reasons; first and foremost being close to Otto, and allowing him more chances to run home on study breaks. All in all, I couldn't feel better about any of these decisions. The only downside is that it happens to be the most expensive school we applied for. Ahhhhh well.

Oh, and in case you didn't notice from the picture, this school is obsessed with the color blue. It is everywhere. Including every square inch of carpet in my apartment. Ah well... I like blue right?

Reason 5: Phoenix

I'm a small town girl, and my heart will always belong to the country. I have lived out of the country for almost ten years now, and I still feel "all grown up" every time I navigate a bus or train system, or drive on a busy freeway. I love to go home to the country and breathe in the quiet, blissful, carefree sheltered safe air. But the city is an intriguing place, full of new discoveries and adventures. There will be new restaurants (that we eat at once a year) new museums (free ones of course) new malls (to window shop in and plan out my next outfit that I can afford in a decade or two) and new great deals to find and things to learn. New parks to take Eli to, new entertainment and art and new trails to hike (only ones without snakes of course) and new people to know. I can't wait!!!

Reason 6: West is Best

While I have made it very clear that I am ready for an adventure, and would have willingly followed my husband anywhere in the country for a good education, (and stay tuned... our decade+ long education is just beginning!) all in all I am glad we have stayed in the west, at least for now. With the realities of the move setting in, I am realizing for the first time that even though I am almost 30 years old, I have never lived this far away from "home" before. I am glad that if we have to move further away, we are still not as far as we could be. And we are still close enough to Utah for a quick trip up every once in a while for important friend/family events.

Hint: That means all friends and family in Utah should feel at least a little guilty if they don't even consider coming to visit us in Glendale. 

Reason 7: Boating

I am sure we will find at least one day in the next two years that Otto actually has a day off. :) I wonder what Eli will think of being on a boat??? I'll bet he likes it....

Reason 8: I MIGHT actually get a tan for once in my life (I'll spare you the before picture... the after one is coming sometime in the next two years. (Yes mom, I promise to wear sunscreen....).

Reason 9: Beautiful landscapes

I have to say, I expected Phoenix to be much uglier. When Otto first took me to visit several years ago, I was amazed at how beautiful the city was. I LOVE these pink flowers that they have everywhere along the freeways. Look how beautiful it looks! Doesn't it make you want to live there??

Reason 10: Family

Looking forward to a lot more good times ahead with these people!!! It will be so nice to be close to family for a few years... especially because they love Eli SO much and are such good grandparents/aunts/uncles to him. I am grateful they will be so close by.

So... Otto and I are thrilled and excited for a new adventure.

Eli is pretty excited too.....