320

I remember my first cell phone - it was maroon and shaped like a small fish.  My dad bought it for me when I was in high school and I thought it was the coolest thing ever.  But the best part - I had my own phone number.

I don't remember my first cell number, but I do remember my second one.  I got that one my freshman year of college when we lied to the Verizon guy about my address so I could get their service.  And over the years I switched phones every two years as my cell phone has come with me every where and to all of the different places I have visited and called home.  And while my phones, location, and level of usage has changed over the years one thing stayed the same.  My phone number and my area code - 320.

An old high school friend asked me for my new cell number over the weekend and when I gave her the digits, she commented that it was the same one I had from years ago.  She was amazed that I never had it change and the more I thought about that fact the more interesting it became.  From the different states and street addresses, one thing stayed the same - 320.  It was almost as if I was just never really ready to let go of my roots in Central Minnesota or maybe my phone knew what was going to happen all along - that 320 would become my home again.

This week I found out some great news, my temporary status of living in central Minnesota just got permanent.  I was offered a new job at a foundation here in the area that involves me working with partnering nonprofits and helping them be successful in their mission to create change in their communities.  I start working again on January 6, 2014 - almost two months to the day since I had stopped working.  I am very excited for the new role but even more excited to be back in 320.

I was never sure I would be back in this area and be so excited about it.  I had spent so many years trying to run away from here that the idea of being happy to be back was very foreign to me at first.  But after speaking to my friend Heidi, it made more sense.  She had lived a path much like mine - she grew up in Mason City, IA, went to college at ISU and then moved out to Detroit.  After several years of living in the "Mitten State," a job and life change led her back to Mason City and her family.  As we spoke on the phone the other day about my new Minnesotan status, she gave me some supportive words about being back where you came from and especially being back around my family. With my old lifestyle I only saw my parents a few times during the year and my extended family in Minnesota only 1-2 times a year, and my brother, who lives in Denver, once a year.  I never thought this was all that weird until I started to notice how much my friends did with their families.

Nights out at the campground, a day spent seeing a movie, or just a quick stop in to say hello.  It was something that was a part of their daily life.  I forgot how much I missed that.  Many of my extended family is only an hour to two hour away from my parents' home and I missed being a part of their daily lives.  And my parents, who have supported me through every move, every hardship and every success, well I missed having them around.  A part of me truly wanted to change that and the job change only made it easier.

I truly believe that things happen that are suppose to happen, you just need to let them.  I knew I was met to make all of the moves and job changes I have done.  For good or bad, they lead me down my path and I gained so much from each one of them.  And the same has been true for my latest.  Not only am I gaining a new and exciting job, but I am getting my family back.  I get to be a part of my parents daily lives (until Spring that is and then it will be a part of their weekly lives ;) and get to see other members of my family more regularly.  And the icing on the cake?  I am still a small drive away from my Iowa friends that make for a great weekend escape!

So I am back in the 320.  If you had asked me five years ago if I would end up here, I would have said no way.  If you had asked me two years ago, I would have said - eh. maybe.  But now.  Well now, at this new fork in my road it feels so great to me back where hotdish makes sense and blaze orange is the state color.  Back in Minnesota and back in the 320 - where my cell phone number makes sense.  Where I make sense.

But to those in Iowa - don't worry I will keep representing the Iowa plates and Hawkeye sweatshirt for a bit longer, as you have been pumped into my blood as well with a side of Alaska.  It has been my travels that have made me who I am and is what makes me excited to be back home.

Dear 320 - I'm back to stay.