Homecoming 2022 (times 2!)

 

 

Greta enjoyed the NHS Homecoming Dance Saturday night, and another type of homecoming on Sunday, with a day-trip to South Orange to check out Seton Hall University! While she had a fun time hanging out with friends at the dance and getting ice cream after, the music was too heavy on the bass in her opinion to enjoy much dancing.  

I'm a little thankful she didn't dance her heels off and come home exhausted, since we were up before the birds and out the door at 6:05 am to make the 8:45 am check-in at the university we frequented every October when we lived three blocks away (pop "Seton Hall" into "search this blog" in the top corner to enjoy a little walk down Pirate lane).

 

It was a full half-day: breakfast, a President's welcome, campus life fair, academic sessions with the Deans and students from the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, an introduction to the Buccino Leadership Institute Program, and campus tour (which included the you-name-it-and-there-is-a-95%-chance-that-they-offer-it dining hall and a residence hall.)

The surprise of the day happened when we heard "Merrill family?" and realized that Rob's former co-worker from MSNBC (2000!) was in our tour group with his daughter, who last played with Greta when they were both 4 years old!

Things wrapped at 1:30, and while the SHU Admissions Team tempted us with dining hall vouchers, we instead elected to drive through our old neighborhood and snag Greta's favorite ziti pizza from the Village Trattoria.  Unfortunately we couldn't cross paths with the Hayden Family at our former family hangout, as they were out of town to tour Bennington College with Emma.  We also brought Lincoln some treats from Hot Bagels Abroad (where we spent hundreds of weekend mornings for breakfast over the 8 years we lived there).  And since Cait & Abby's sadly had closed at noon, we made a quick stop in Maplewood to grab him a black-and-white cookie at the bakery we used to frequent after Sunday school.  It was a fast 6 hours in the car and 6 hours out of it, but the drive was lovely with the Catskills hitting peak color, and we shared sweet memories at nearly every corner of town.

 

The old homestead looked great on our quick drive-by! 

Who knows what Greta's college future will be, but I'm happy figuring that out included an opportunity to visit our past. While we lived there, they sold "Take This Town And Love It!" t-shirts...we will have to see if that will be the case again!