The dictionary definition of home is, “the place where one lives permanently.” In terms of the definition Fort Wayne has not been my home for the past two years, but in all reality it has and always will be.

I was born and raised in Fort Wayne. I really only visited the surrounding cities or states, besides Florida for spring break, up until college. I made the decision to go out of state for college. I go to a university in the fast paced city of Chicago, and I love it there, but it will never be home. Even if someday I end up calling it “the where I live permanently,” it will never truly be my home, because to me my home has things to offer that Chicago will never have.

In Fort Wayne I have who are biologically programed to tolerate, but they choose to go a step further and love me. My family. They have encouraged and been there for me in ever aspect of my life growing up and continue to do so now while I’m away. The weekly phone calls I have with my mom, dad, and younger brother, when they pass the phone around to each other, is one of the things I look forward to most every week. I love getting random texts from my grandma even if it its an accidental text or just a question or two about technology. Chicago doesn’t have my grandma that I can go get my nails done with or go shopping with. She isn’t here to joke and gossip with me, which I miss dearly. Nor is my grandpa here with his dad jokes, and his teasing. Fort Wayne will always be home because of them.

Another several reasons why Fort Wayne will always be home is my best friend, my person, my sister by choice. That is all one person and I don’t have her here to joke about middle school or high school with, to sing car karaoke with, or to just be bums on her couch and watch Melissa McCarthy with. I do have a best friend here, which I’m lucky to have, but there are so many inside jokes that only my person will understand. Another reason is that Chicago doesn’t have my best friend and boyfriend. Chicago has cute boys, but not a man like my boyfriend. Who I can spend the day doing anything from a real date to just watching Netflix with and we talking about everything. We are long-distance and he is becoming my home. So unless Chicago would ever have my sister and boyfriend there permanently, it would never be my home.

The final reasons that Chicago could never be considered my home are about Fort Wayne itself. There is no Zestos, and nothing can top it either. There is no Tin Caps with an over-smiley Johnny Appleseed either. One of my newest reasons to stay rooted in Fort Wayne is Yummi Bunni and no other place in the country has that, I don’t think. Fort Wayne is also the only place that can say they are home to the Komets and Icey and come on who doesn’t love Icey.

Whether I live in Chicago for the rest of my life or just until I finish college it’ll never be my home. Its missing some of the people that make me who I am and love me the most in the world. Its also missing so of the greatest places to hang out as well. Saying these things might make people think I’m meant for a small town, but I don’t care as long as that small town is Fort Wayne.