When buying our first home in Noe Valley many years ago, my husband and I pondered over the same questions that young people do today. The city versus the suburbs?—and everything else in between you must answer as you choose which way to go. We chose the city route, and occasionally I still wonder how things would have turned out if our chosen travels had been to suburbia instead?
This question was recently answered in a Birthday Letter from one of my daughters. After reading it several times, and thinking how lucky I am to have such a wonderful daughter, I had an urge to share some of her thoughts about living in our beloved hometown of San Francisco.
My Daughter began her letter by saying: Dear Mom, I wish I could have spent your birthday with you. But in honor of your birthday, here are things I love and am grateful for about you! The list was long and I was amazed at the things she remembered, but will limit it to just San Francisco city living.
- I am grateful for all the hours (days) we spent at the aquarium.
- I love that you took us to the library every Sunday, checking out as many books as possible.
- I am grateful for all the sacrifices and dedication you put into my education, it was amazing and I feel fantastically lucky.
- I love that we all spent so much time swimming at UC pool.
- I love the memories of going to Strawberry Canyon to swim in the summer.
- I love spending time in the arboretum, tea garden, and Shakespeare garden with you.
- I love walking around San Francisco and going on torture walks with you; like the time Marc’s feet almost fell off on New Year’s Day.
- I love memories of looking in store windows downtown at Christmas as kids with you.
- I am grateful for all the walks we took in the park with our dogs Midnight and Betsey.
- I am grateful for growing up in the city, it’s a huge part of who I am, and for that I am really fortunate.
While finishing the letter I felt overwhelmed by her memories, and couldn’t help but think we made the right choice. My daughter lives in Colorado and works in a wilderness therapy program. Last summer she led a two month back pack trip in the Sierra for Outward Bound. My other daughter is a scientist, currently living and working in Paris. At the moment I don’t expect either of them to be returning to San Francisco, and so I miss them every day.
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Tags: Area Suburbs, Suburbs