Kalamazoo for the longest time, to me, was singing to myself, “K-A-L-A-M-A-Z-O-O, Oh I’ve got a gal, in Kalamazoo,” any time I heard or read the name. I had played it in our Jazz Show for marching band my senior year of high school, and that was about what I knew. I did eventually travel here a couple of times to a long-gone venue to see a few of my favorite bands (the last one was to see MeWithoutYou). And my best friend went to Western (I was at Central at the time), so we would trade off visiting one-another. We would come to find out, Western fans are nicer to Central fans (go figure).

Two years ago, this month, an opportunity arose, the stars aligned, and throw in a bit of a love story too, and well, here I am, in Kalamazoo. And of course, I have outgrown singing the song in my head every time I hear the name (now it is only occasionally), and I have found myself slowly becoming a Bronco fan as well. 

As you know from my bio, I was born and raised on the east side in the Detroit area, and spent the first three decades of my life there. In comparison to Kalamazoo, it is an entirely different world. My only aids in discovering the Kalamazoo area and what it has to offer were truly through my work here at the magazine, and the two jobs I’ve had otherwise. And I was able to expand my mental “map” of the area further by reconnecting with friends living here and adventures my wanderlust boyfriend and I embarked on. Luckily now, I can get to places without Google Maps!

I have found the people here are nicer—more laid back. People take time to chat and say hello. There’s a community aspect I’m not sure I have ever come across in my former residences that is something unmatched and admirable. The stories I have come across — the way people have come together to help (even in the pandemic, like my Green Door Distillery article), is just truly a unique and remarkable thing. I spent most of my life existing in this hustle world of focusing on one’s self, or rather the “every man for himself,” attitude, severely lacking thank yous, how are yous, and genuine chats. But in Kalamazoo, I receive them quite frequently.

And odd thing is, when I encounter a former east-sider in the Kalamazoo wilds, they agree. 

You are a rare place, and I am sure somewhere out there are others like you, but out of the I believe now 20+ cities in Michigan I have lived in, none of them truly compare, even close. Sure, there is still discord here, and maybe some areas are not the nicest of places, and I mean, my neighbors are in a near full-out war over black walnuts and property lines (there are trespassing signs involved now), but overall, you are friendly. Welcoming. Illustrious. Embracing. 

Sure, I do get homesick, and miss living near my family, especially after all we’ve been through in my time of living here, but I love it. Your community and you as readers have taken me in and really shared with me this great place to live. A place I’m proud to be a part of. A place where when I have people first ask me why I’m here, and tell me I need to move back, I let them know: I’m good here.



So, a “thank you,” people of Kalamazoo, for being so welcoming these last two years. And thank you, for making an incredible place to live — one I think I would like to stick around and enjoy for a while. And I hope, with my little note of thanks, you remember why you love being here too.