Oh…Hi! Oh!!!

Get it? OHIO! Ohio and I have a very special relationship. I think I may be the only New Yorker who loves Ohio. There were others – but those that I knew of, moved there. So is that how it works? You live somewhere – you find somewhere else you like better – so you move there? Seems to be. I seem to have that small (haha) factor of waiting for God to tell me to go. So you may be thinking – is this Jess saying that she’s moving to Ohio? Nope – it’s not. Is it me saying that I secretly hope that I do? Yup.

Many people do not understand my obsession with Ohio. Chris didn’t, until we went last summer that is. In my opinion, it’s the best state I’ve been to in the US. It’s a perfect balance of beauty, peace, excitment, and all that the US has to offer. It’s not the middle of nowhere but it’s definitely not a big city place. It’s got the feel of the midwest-country hospitality but doesn’t move as slow as the south. There are cities to visit and work in that are driving distance from miles and miles of open land. The grass is green and the sky is blue. It’s just the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to and it just feels like home when I’m there – even though I’ve never been able to call it home.

So the reason I’m telling you all this? Chris and I are going to Ohio again! We were supposed to stay there overnight going to Cornerstone (in Illinois) and overnight on the way home but our trip has been extended! We’ll be staying 3 days in Ohio, 2 of which in tiny Malta, a town in which Chris’ friend lives with his wife and newborn son, and then another night in familiar Akron, where we stayed last year.

I’m nervous. I’m nervous for 2 reasons. This amount of time in Ohio will either confirm my love for Ohio and cause me to return to NY bummed to be back as I did last year, or it will bring me to the realization that Ohio isn’t the peaceful haven that I have in my head. I know it’s wrong to anticipate disappointment but I guess I am. Hopefully this will change sometime within the next 3 weeks

In case you don’t know my history with Ohio – here it is. My dad went to Ohio University for his undergrad. He loved it there. He played football for the school and the one picture I adore of my father was when he was younger - its a beautiful photo of him in the grass wearing a bright green ohio shirt and sporting a 70s fro. It’s the only time I think I’ve seen him THAT happy and full of life. He transfered out before graduating to go to college with my mom in Brooklyn. Based on his stories I know he doesn’t regret his decision – but he does recognize how different his life would have been should he have stayed in Ohio. Fast forward to my high school experience, where I meet and date a guy who lo and behold – is preparing to go to Ohio University. *Note this is NOT Ohio State, this is a small private school in the same state.* We stay together while he’s there so I went out to visit a few times and I fell in love with not only the school, but the state. The campus is beautiful, as are the people and the town in little Athens, Ohio. I beg my parents to take me out to Ohio to look at schools and discover that one campus is prettier than the next. I applied and got early acceptance into Ohio University as a journalism major with a minor in dance. I was so psyched to be just like my dad and go to his school. I even wore MY Ohio shirt in my high school yearbook! Then senior year of high school got weird and I freaked out. I didn’t want to take a plane to go to school – so I didn’t go. I stayed in NY and went to school in the 3rd cloudiest, rundown, lifeless city in America, Binghamton. Needless to say, I spent many hours regretting my decision but ultimately know that my life wouldn’t be what it is right now if I had gone to Ohio. Chris and I went to Ohio last year, as noted above, and he loved it as much as I do. So we’ll see what happens this year!

Here’s our schedule as of now:

June 27-29: Malta, OH
June 29-30: Akron, OH
June 30-July 6: Bushnell, IL
July 6-7: Akron, OH
**July 7th – our 2 year anniversary!**
July 7th – return home to Fishkill, NY