Topeka, I'm sure going to miss you.

For the last six years, my family and I have had the privilege of calling Topeka, Kansas, home.

When we arrived, my kids were little. Really little. Now they're bigger boys with their own memories, friendships and connections to this place. And when I think about leaving Topeka, those are some of the things that hit me the hardest.

I'm going to miss watching my kids grow up here.

I'm going to miss remembering a two-year-old exploring the Kansas Children's Discovery Center and then going back again and again as he grew. I'm going to miss our countless trips to the Topeka Zoo — sometimes with the kids, sometimes without them for a date night at Brew at the Zoo — and especially those nights walking through Zoo Lights during the holidays.

Those places became part of our family's traditions. And somewhere along the way, the people behind them also became incredible partners and friends, helping us dream up things like Topeka Dino Days and so many other ideas that made this city a little more fun.

I'm going to miss walking through Downtown every day, grabbing a shake at Forward Nutrition or lunch at The Celtic Fox, The Pennant or Iron Rail. I'm going to miss walking across Evergy Plaza and seeing a team constantly working to create spectacle, entertainment and moments for this community — so much of it completely free.

I'm going to miss the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

There are moments from this job that you simply couldn't plan if you tried. One of mine was standing inside TPAC before a Kansas concert and hearing the band sound-check “Dust in the Wind,” the music echoing through the hallways before the doors opened to the public.

I remember standing there thinking, How cool is this?

I'll never forget it.

But mostly, I'm going to miss the people.

There are so many people working incredibly hard every day to make Topeka a better place to live, work and play. I've had the privilege of seeing that work up close.

I've seen it at the Combat Air Museum, the Museum of the Kansas National Guard, the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library and the Kansas Museum of History. I've watched people pour themselves into our neighborhoods, attractions, arts organizations, events and businesses. I've watched new ideas take shape and old places find new life. I've watched people take chances on Topeka.

The list could go on and on.

And that's probably the problem with writing a love letter to a city after six years. Eventually you realize you're also writing a goodbye letter.

When I came to Topeka, I had a pretty simple goal: I wanted to leave Visit Topeka — and hopefully Topeka itself — better than I found it.

I believe we did that.

I'm proud of what our team accomplished. I'm proud of the risks we took, the projects we launched, the visitors we welcomed and the stories we told. I'm proud of the work we did alongside our partners throughout the Greater Topeka Partnership and across this community.

But as I get ready to leave, I've realized something else.

Topeka is leaving me better than it found me.

Whatever opportunities come next for me are, in no small part, the result of what I learned here — the collaborations, the ambitious projects, the occasional crazy ideas that somehow became real, and the people who believed in me and our team enough to say, "Let's do it."

My family grew up here.

I grew here, too.

So yes, Topeka, I'm sure going to miss you.

I'm going to miss the places. I'm going to miss the experiences. I'm going to miss the work.

But most of all, I'm going to miss all of you.

I love you guys.

Thank you for everything.

SD