Milligan College Homecoming Weekend 2008 - Class of 2003 Five Year Reunion

I had no idea how much I would enjoy Homecoming Weekend at Milligan. Since we decided to go I've just been thinking, "Well, I hope it will be fun" but haven't really felt super excited about it. As the days drew closer and I started seeing more and more of my favorite Milliganites respond that they were coming I did get more and more excited. By Friday night I was almost in a frenzy to see people from Milligan. Tony and I arrived way too early at the young alumni social and had to wait around to see people we knew, but I was just too ready to kick off the weekend!

Being emotional and nostalgic as I am, I wasn't really sure how I would feel about being on campus. It always makes me sad to go back somewhere and realize that it is no longer the way that I remembered it. This was not the case last weekend. As Tony said in the previous blog, and all of us mentioned to one another quite a few times to one another during the weekend, Milligan felt almost exactly the same. Because we were surrounded by so many well-known and well-loved faces, it felt like we had never really left. The only difference is that now some of us come with spouses and/or kids which somehow just added to the fun. Milligan was exactly the same beautiful, relaxing place I remember it being. The picture to the right is of Derthick Hall, which was renovated during our years at Millgan. It is probably my favorite academic building because all my English classes were held there. Although there have been changes, they have been so well done that nothing really felt out of place. I spent time walking around campus with the people I love, while we all tried to capture as much of these fabulous moments on film as we could. Check out the beautiful view from Sutton Hill, where I lived for three years. The other picture is of me in front of my dorm room door in Sutton.

One thing I always am astounded by when I see my friends from college is that so little has changed between us. Sure, our lives have changed a lot and sure, we have missed sharing a lot of things over the past five years in the way of happiness or hardship, but somehow that initial spark that brought us all together is still there. If possible I think we all love and appreciate one another MORE now that we don't get to see one another that often (or live together and daily become annoyed by one another's idiosyncrasies.)

I was especially thrilled to get to spend time with my roommates from senior year. We even took the time to head up (via vehicle, not walking up Sutton Hill) to our old apartment to annoy its new tenants and take pictures outside the door. We talked about how we half expected to open the door and see the apartment exactly as it was when we lived there. Our old hand-me down couches we attempted to slipcover, our "entertainment" center set-up, our "borrowed" kitchen tables and chairs from Kegley Hall. For a moment I even wished that I could take a nap in my old bed, which has been my all-time favorite place I've ever slept.

The entire weekend was non-stop fun while we made connections with most of our favorite people from our days attending Milligan. We visited professors, walked about campus, cheered at the parade, watched a soccer game, and ate at some of our favorite places. Saturday night we made the most of the last few hours we would get to spend with our Milligan friends. Tony got to watch the Ohio State Game in Webb Hall with his old roomies, while a bunch of us girls (with the addition of some good-natured spouses) went to dinner at a very nice and unique German restaurant in the not-so-nice or unique downtown Johnson City. Over hearty servings of brats, schnitzel, and goulash, we reminisced about the times we spent together traveling Europe. In the end it was well worth the chilly wait for a table to seat 12 because of good food and great times.I can't imagine my life without the four years I spent at Milligan. So much of who I've become depended upon the things I learned there, the people I met, and their influences upon me. Here's to seeing you all in 2013!

This week in my life...

What a crazy week it has been! I drove in to school today just as the sun began to rise. I drove home with it blinding me as it retired for the day. Sun up to sun down. Perhaps I am spending too much time at work?

Thursday was 70s day at Kingsway. Only 3 other teachers dressed up, and I was by far the MOST over-the-top, which I am fine with. The kids love it when we get into their stuff. Anyway, I have these fabulous 70s dresses from my Aunt Robin (she made and wore them in high school) and I just couldn't let them go to waste. A few of my students and I wore them and had a blast that day. I believe we were the grooviest by far.

This weekend was a crazy, busy blast while I spent time with one of my favorite people to ever cross my path at Milligan or anywhere else. Sarah came to stay with me this weekend to attend a wedding on Saturday. As usual she helped me reevaluate things in my life like some of my friendships, perspectives, and relationships with food. Sarah has been all over, met all kinds of people, and had some amazing revelations about relationships with people and with God. I always learn so much when I'm around her. She has such an honest open spirit which is so refreshing and helps me to take inventory of my own weaknesses in those areas. We had some fun times with coffee, veggies, and the AAA guy. The lovely picture to the right is of us at Wooster Panera. Other lovely places we ate over the weekend include: Melvin's, The Hungarian Pastry Shop, Starbucks, and Wendy's. Wooster has so many fabulous places to take a visitor!

Sunday night, after we had each spent time with our families, we returned home where we found Tony and Jim (my brother-in-law) playing Rock Band II. Jim had just gone out the night it was released so he could have it at midnight. I'm a little afraid to try the instruments, so instead I became the vocalist! The boys were a little annoyed about how long it took me to design my character, but she HAD to be cute! We just need to become a better band so I can buy some fabulous clothes. Check me out down below. I love singing along to the songs I know, and to laugh while muddling through the ones I've never heard. I sang one about having 200 hundred couches for you to sleep on. (A-wha?) It was such a blast and I feel inspired to host a Rock Band Party. Dust off your favorite 80s rocker outfit and wait for an invite. I'm so doing that! The picture is of Tony and I rocking out on Sunday night. (Our living room doesn't really scream "Rock Band," does it?) I can't wait to play again.