I was more than caught off guard as my eyes welled up with tears. This was a place I wanted to leave and now I was overcome by emotion upon my return. But as I walked onto Heinz Field (the Pittsburgh Steelers home football stadium) and saw the people I had spent five years with, I suddenly realized something: I miss Pittsburgh.

To fully understand why this is so surprising, I'll share some raw insight into my time and departure from the 'burgh.

It was this time one year ago when I walked into my executive producers' office and handed him my letter of resignation. To say this came as a bit of a shock to my boss (and my co-workers), might be an understatement.

My contract was not up; I had one year remaining on a two-year extension deal. I was not in jeopardy of losing my job. I did not have another full-time job to fall back on. My reason for leaving; I wanted out and I needed a change.

When I finally made the decision to quit my job and leave Pittsburgh, I was pretty miserable. I was spending thousands of dollars a year traveling to other cities; most often New York and Milwaukee. Without fail, as I boarded the plane back to Pittsburgh I would cry. Sometimes it was so uncontrollable that the person next to me on the aircraft would try and offer comfort.

The odd thing was, I was never quite sure why I wasn't happy. I loved my job and had wonderful friends, but something just wasn't right.

So on Nov. 7, 2007 I packed my car and said goodbye. The tears fell like a waterfall as I crossed into Ohio, but by the time I reached the Chicago skyline I was giddy with excitement to return home.

In the following months people would always ask if I missed Pittsburgh. My standard answer was "I miss my friends, but not much else."

Making the trip back this past weekend proved me wrong.

I've found the old saying, "You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone" coming true almost a year later. During the five years I lived in PIttsburgh, it rarely felt like home. But oddly enough when I returned this time, it felt exactly right.

I love the gritty people and the hundreds of bridges and the die-hard attitude of Steelers fans. Most of all, I appreciate how Pittsburgh helped me become the person I am today.

Being forced out of a comfort zone is a very quick way to discover who you are, and what you are made of. My good friend Sarah told me I developed a much better sense of humor after moving away. At times I may have found a little too much cynicism, but my experiences hardened me a little -- which I needed.

I became a little more no-nonsense, thanks to the tiny bit of East Coast attitude that fills the city limits in western Pennsylvania. It's not quite New York City, but the folks in PA are a little more likely to tell you how it is than in the heart of the Midwest.

I found a way to be more independent while living almost 600 miles from home. As a kid I was scared to go to summer camp. After living in Pittsburgh I felt confident enough to travel Europe alone.

I also discovered the kindness of strangers. Not once during my time away from Milwaukee was I ever devoid of family. From my FSN co-workers, to other members of the media, and even families I met covering Pittsburgh's many pro and high school sports teams; I always had a standing offer for a home-cooked meal or a place to put my head down.

I'm not planning a permanent return to my old stomping grounds, but I will no longer deny what the city meant to me. Five years is a long time, and despite the years' imperfections, Pittsburgh and its people gave me a lot to build on.