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After college I wasn't sure where I wanted to go, but I knew one thing. I didn't want to stay in Kansas City. I didn't really have anything against it, but the city was a dead city at the time, with nothing to entice anyone downtown on the weekend and I wanted to live IN a city, with life and adventure. A suburb is a suburb is a suburb and I was NOT going to spend the rest of my life in a suburb (see denial). So I found myself in Chicago and I fell in love. I loved that city. I loved the feeling of life. I loved that just walking down the street I felt like I was a part of something. I loved the feeling of community where everyone was proud to be a Chicagoan. It is something that I never felt in suburban Kansas City. We had a great feeling of community in our neighborhood, with neighborhood parties, kickball in the street, and all that. We had a great community among our high school area (Once a Viking, Always a Viking). But I never felt a part of Kansas City. Maybe because I'm suburban, or maybe because Kansas City was really as uncool at that time as I thought it was.
But something happened when I was away from Kansas City. Any time people asked me where I was from I found myself defending Kansas City. I had a lot of geographically confused people (one told me Kansas was in the South), a lot of Wizard of Oz jokes, a lot of people that assumed I grew up on a farm, and at least one person who was surprised to learn that people actually live in Kansas City (you know we support and NFL team and an MLB team, right?). I found myself proudly carrying my Royals umbrella at a time when we were consistently the worst team in baseball. I was standing up for KC... I think... maybe... I was proud of my KC roots.
Years later when I faced the reality of moving back to Kansas City due to my husband's job, I had mixed feelings. It would be nice to be by my friends and family, but was I really going to live in suburban Kansas City by choice? Well yes. You know what? Kansas City has great people, and that starts to matter more as I spend more time raising kids and working and less time adventuring. In addition, it had increased substantially on the cool charts (clearly trying to win me back) - I still haven't checked it all out so there's still room for plenty of adventure. So, it didn't take me long to admit it. I love KC.
Then 2014 happened. The Royals. This is the team who had felt like a losing minor league team for so long. You guys, the Royals were in the playoffs! And then, can you believe it, this Wild Card team went to the WORLD SERIES!!! It was so much fun to join together with our community during that time to cheer for the Royals, watch the games, and be part of the excitement. I traveled a little during that time and when I told people I was from Kansas City, I didn't get Wizard of Oz jokes or consoling comments. I was being cheered on. Everyone knew Kansas City, everyone wanted to see the Royals win. Everyone asked me about Kansas City. And I was undeniably proud. Then 2015 happened and the Royals WON the WORLD SERIES! And then they CANCELED SCHOOL! They CANCELED SCHOOL for a PARADE! Wow. So we took off work, fought the crowds, and took the kids to the parade (well except the one-year-old who we sent to daycare... I know she's going to be upset about this some day). It was crazy, but it was amazing. Not only was my love for this city renewed, but my kids felt it. Everyone in KC felt it. People outside KC felt it. It was pretty amazing. There is no doubt now that there is definitely a feeling of community among the Kansas City metro area.
This year the Royals aren't in the playoffs (Cubs are though, go Cubs!). The I heart KC frenzy has died down a little, but the effects of 2014 and 2015 might last forever in our hearts. There is definitely a renewed love for all things KC. At the end of the day the people here are what makes it so amazing. The people here always have been the best, even out here in the suburbs. Those Royals were such a great representation of us; they won games, not by having some super star, but by each guy doing his part, playing good baseball, working together... and having fun. They were Kansas City. I love the Royals. I love our city. Even if I'm in the suburbs. (But Chicago still has part of my heart - go Cubs!)
