Saint Mary's College 5 year Reunion

Hi there... 5 years, can you believe it! Not me! I headed to Chicago, then South Bend for a long weekend of laughing, crying, reliving old memories, making new ones and believing that attending Saint Mary's College was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I know people love their undergraduate college and remember it with much nostalgia, but I firmly believe I followed the right path there to make me a better person, strong woman and a faithfully friend.

I flew in Chicago Wednesday night to have Lindsey and Lauren pick me up at the airport. We ate pizza out on Lauren's courtyard/backyard and chit chatted away. I stayed with Lindsey, because Lauren's house is still being remodeled and settled. When Lindsey and I got to her house, we sat on her patio and talked some more! Oh geez, I didn't believe my ears and mouth could do that much talking and listen in a short amount of time. Friday, Lindsey made a german pancake with fruit salad to start us off for a big day of pampering at Red Door spa for our nails and toe toes. After that, we went to the RL Grill on MI Ave for lunch. We walked up and down Michigan Ave for fun.

Friday, we packed up the car to drive to South Bend for the Reunion. Sara and Marie had a little bit of a jump start on us, but with no real schedule to follow, but our own, we did not feel rushed to get there. The drive from Chicago to South Bend seems to go by like a blink of an eye. All a sudden, I saw SMC's campus from the toll road and I felt like I had never left. I knew at some point of the weekend, I would have the flood gates open and I would start crying, but not yet... Not even coming down the avenue, but I remembered moving in my first year with Mom and Lisa driving down the avenue!Lindsey, Lauren and I parked the car in the new parking lot by LeManns and I saw the new student union/dining hall in person for the first time. I thought campus would be a buzz with all the people in for the reunion. I thought no way would we recognize anyone from our graduation year... but the first group of people we saw was a woman from MI. I chatted with her and was very thankful she had her name tag on to remember her name! Then, we walked into the student union, I felt it come up my body, the FLOOD GATES opened! I started to cry in the student union, oh geez! So, running into Marie and Sara outside the Student Union was not the best thing for my shaking emotional state, but that is what happened! I hugged the Marie and Sara and tried to say hello without any words coming out of my mouth! Oh man!



I recovered enough to check into our 5 person dorm room in LeMans. We all got our keys, schedule and instantly remember how hot the residence halls can be in the summer. We open the 2 floor room to thankfully see box fans to help cool off the room! Linens for the beds and towels were included in the dorm room. Some alumnae spend their nights in hotels, but we all agreed we wouldn't have it any other way then staying the the dorm rooms.




Everyone was hungry, so we thought getting some food would be a good idea. We hit CJ's bar for burgers and beer. Minus the beers for Lauren and Marie, because they are pregnant and a week apart, both due in September.

Friday dinner and the all class party was held in the new dining hall. The reunion is separated into the graduation classes ending in 2 and 7. For all the events in the dining hall the tables were designated for your graduation year. We all noticed that there was not much a different between our graduation year and 1997. After the party, we decided to go to the bar, near our old house, Corby's.

Saturday, we hit the mall! Lauren and I also went back to Holy Cross, our dorm for 3 years. We both agreed that our rooms that we lived in were MUCH smaller that we remember. Even, our triple room with shared with Lindsey seems smaller.















We all got ready for a nice dinner off campus, at a restaurant in downtown South Bend called LaSalle Grille. We loved getting ready to go out all together in the dorm room. Much like the rest of the weekend, dinner was laid back and relaxed. We took our time to enjoy the company and the food. Impromptu speeches were given about our wonderful, shared friendships and being excited for what will come in the future for all of us. After dinner, we decided to go back to Corby's, but all decided that we were not up for another late night. Back in LeMan, I tried to stay awake for the late night chats, but my eyes just wouldn't stay open!

Sunday, we woke up to rain, thunder and lighting. Mass was schedule for 9:45am at the Church of Lourdo (where Sara Cronley got married) and we all attended . Every hymn we sang, I teared up a bit, but that is normal for me! The last event on campus was the champange brunch back in the dining hall. Again, a great spread of food was provided. But the nicest compliment to whole weekend was the new president, Carol Ann Mooney '72, came to everyone's tables to say hello and thanks for coming. It was a very nice touch!

Marie headed to Fort Wayne and Sara back to Chicago. Lindsey, Lauren and I said our goodbyes to Marie and Sarah after checking out at LeMans. Before we drove back to Chicago, we went to ND campus to the grotto. Being back at the grotto felt like visiting an old familiar friend. L, L and I also drove back to Chicago to enjoy the rest of the day. I booked my flight to head back to NC on Monday morning, so we did not have to rush back on Sunday and worry about going right to the airport. Lindsey and I dropped of Lauren at her place to get settle back home while we went back to Lindsey to get dinner ready for Lauren's bday. JB grilled out while we dined on ribs, asparagus and potatoes on the outside patio. Lauren blew out her bday candles in home made cupcakes from Mandy B's for dessert! Always hard to say goodbye, but Lauren needed to go home. No tears, but big long hugs. I held Lauren's belly and told her little girl, Julia, goodbye and that I loved her already!

Lindsey, JB and I talked about football and other stadium around the country that are fun to be at. JB and his crew are already set to come to Chapel Hill in 2008, when Carolina and ND play football. I hope to be able to host Lindsey and Lauren in 08 for the game too! Always something to look forward too!

Nothing exciting happened on the plane ride back to NC. I slept the whole way on the plane. The plane landed at 9:30am and I went straight to work. Ughhh...

I imagine this more information than you wanted to know... but it was a pretty special weekend for me!

SEE YOU ON FRIDAY!