Tonight I thought I’d have to battle some nasty traffic to leave downtown Chicago after work and make it home to the suburb where my parents live about 40 miles west of the city. However, I was impressed by how easy the commute felt (hint: windows down, hair in a ponytail, blasting your favorite tunes and feeling the breeze in your hand helps make the trip much more enjoyable). First stop: a lovely dinner with mom, sis and some family friends - just a girls night with lots of laughs and delicious eats from a favorite place in the downtown area of our city. But the best part of the evening was the fact that one of my favorite Baylor ladies (and a roommate from the ‘10-‘11 school year) was visiting Illinois, as her first days on her new job begin with training at a facility less than a mile from my parent’s house! Alex and I have such an easy friendship, she’s like a sister. Lots of laughs, honesty, advice-sharing and life catch ups happened in a couple hours relaxing on the basement couches of my parent’s house accompanied by a couple of glasses of red wine. I often feel so disconnected from the Baylor community up here in Chicago, far from the 98% of my college friends who remained in Texas after graduation. Yes, Chicago (home) was calling my name, and I’m so happy to have made that decision, but sweet time with a special friend from school also brings the comforts of home. I’m just so grateful for the reminder I had tonight that if Alex (or whoever for that matter) and I play phone tag for a couple of months, that eventually the time that we finally do get to reconnect in person will be sweet and worthwhile. I couldn’t ask for a better way to start my week. Full of happiness.