Seattle

In the heart of the Pacific Northwest there is a city called Seattle, my hometown. Where rain falls frequently, traffic is always guaranteed, and coffee is the elixir of life. Seattle has played a significant role is shaping the person I am today. Not only has it been my haven for nineteen wonderful years but also it is also a place that I will always be proud to call home.

Seattle has many beautiful aspects. It is truly a place graced with God's beauty. Over the city horizon one can see the magnificent Mount Rainer, the Cascade Mountain Range, and the Puget Sound. In every direction one can find a something to do because Seattle never fails to cure boredom. However, as I contemplate these characteristics of Seattle I come to realize just how much I have underappreciated my city. Seattle has given me countless memories that I could probably spend a lifetime sharing. As a child, I can remember taking the short drive to Snoqualmie Falls after church with my family where we would hike the mountain trails and picnic in the forest. On rainy days we would venture to the Pier and explore undersea animals at the Seattle aquarium. When the summer season would finally arrive, my friends and I would run barefoot down the streets of Wallingford, our neighborhood, to Greenlake. There we would swim and paddle boat until exhaustion would overtake us.

Seattle is not only visually beautiful but the inhabitants of Seattle are quite unique. I find that the people in Seattle seem to have much more relaxed personalities. Living in the big city there is always that feeling of rushing, however, people in Seattle seem to take their time and enjoy their surroundings. Seattle never fails to show its hometown pride at sports events and music events. One thing Seattle can truly call its own is its passion for music. Seattle is very musically inclined. At every street corner you can find a coffee shop or record store blasting one of the many talented artists Seattle has to offer.

There are many values that I have learned by growing up in Seattle. I have learned to appreciate God's creation. Seattle's beauty is a constant reminder that God truly does exist. Seattle has also taught me to value the simpler things in life. I have always complained about the rain or the cold winter season but now that I have experienced other places I miss the Seattle seasons. For example, Fall, when trees shed their leaves that burn with brilliant orange and red hues or winter, when Greenlake freezes over and hot chocolate is a daily necessity. I miss jumping in piles of crispy leaves and using umbrellas two hundred days out of the year. These are things only a true Seattleite can treasure and understand.

I will always consider Seattle my home wherever I may end up in the future. The lessons and experiences Seattle has blessed me with will always apply to my life. I am forever grateful for the life I have had in Seattle.