Um Ya Ya!

We took the kids to St Olaf for the first time this weekend.  We'd been only twice since graduating and it occurred to me suddenly that we can do that now because WE LIVE SO CLOSE!  We're still getting into our new groove here, especially on weekends and I'm finding we need our new "go to's" with the kids. St Olaf may just be it.

We left around 10. After a bike ride for the kids and Ian and a run for me.  We made it just in time for an early lunch.  Ainsley brought her backpack loaded with things, her clipboard and pencil being the most important.  I'm realizing our girl has such a unique relationship with learning and I loved seeing her so motivated.  She wrote down every word she saw spelled out, even stopping outside of the math and science building to copy some linear algebra that was on the concrete steps.  A big "?" placed after the equation.  Her notes and graphs from that day are magical.

For me the magic was the place and the memories.  I've heard lots of peoples college stories by now and mine falls in the category of "best time of my life". Most definitely.

There are so many things about St Olaf that are so specific to that place.  How the students live on campus all four years, eat every single meal together in one place, leave their packpacks, laptops, mailboxes unlocked and unattended, spend free time at pubs sipping beer by the river, taking a bus to see movies on the big screen at the big town up the highway.  It truly was a magical time and it was so fun to relive that with Ian and our children.

They loves the cafeteria and getting to choose whatever they wanted.  They LOVED the ice cream and walking around campus.  Their priority was finding the pit in the library where Daddy used to nap in between study sessions and class.  They are shocked by how quiet it was there. Louise couldn't quite wrap her mind around why anyone would leave their home. Ainsley was ALL over it.  She'll make a good Ole someday if she'd like.

I really didn't want to leave.  I wanted to stand in the commons and magically be transported back to junior year, for just a few days.  Living with awesome friends, thick in secure love with Ian, rocking out essays and paintings and shots of espresso and 5 milers.  Then I stopped and realized that I've more of those magical life phases since then.  Being newly married, being a new parent, now this new home and raising children and finding my place in the adult parent world. There's a time for it all.

On our drive home as the kids crashed Ian and I talked about what we'd change if we could.  His were all class related, mine, not so much. I do wish I'd delved more into the opportunities there. Though really I felt my time there was used well.  I'll be very excited for the 10 year reunion. We can finally go!

I'm excited to go back, adventure more into town next time.  Northfield and St Olaf will always hold a very special place in my heart.