#AUEagleFamily

Grandma Vicki and I had a lovely weekend with Greta at American University.  The drive from Syracuse flew by with hours of catch-up-chatting followed by the first half of a Janet Evanovich RomCom novel on CD. Super-smart Google Maps redirected us off the Beltway to avoid rush hour delays, with a beautiful detour via Democracy Boulevard that had us driving past homes with huge black suburbans and secret service cars parked outside! 

We arrived late Thursday afternoon just as Greta finished her Macroeconomics midterm.  She joined us at the coffee shop outside her School of International Service, and it was a sweet reunion after eight weeks apart.  Following a pretty quick unpacking of fall/winter clothing at her dorm and a campus tour, we enjoyed dinner at The Terrance Dining Hall, known as TDR with Greta's friends Jane and Hannah.  While TDR has received mixed reviews in some circles, Greta assured us there was always something sufficient, and that their white rice is very, very good. I enjoyed the chili-lime chicken, mushroom risotto, asparagus salad, and roasted beets, with a tasty gluten-free cinnamon bun for dessert (at Jane's insistence).

Friday morning, Greta metro'd to Ballston to meet us at Aunt Kathy's condo, which AK kindly let us stay at for the weekend.  We drove down to Pentagon City for a Costco spree that ranged from chocolate acai berries and tide pods for Greta to a new down jacket and lentil soup for Grandma Vicki to bottles of wine for Thanksgiving and grape seed oil for me (Kim: we love your granola recipe!).

From Costco it was up to AU to unload and meet Greta's roommate, Ella, for lunch in Tenleytown, where I enjoyed THE BEST GF pizza I have ever had. Credit to Greta for picking Angelico's after consulting various yelp reviews. Fully sated, we rode the free shuttle back to campus and took a break at the dorm. From there it was off to the Family Mix & Mingle event, with refreshing fruit-infused waters, reception fare, and free travel coffee mugs. Nice swag.

We missed the President's Welcome Saturday morning because I insisted on having breakfast at Metro 29, our favorite diner in Arlington that we frequented when we lived in Alexandria, and I still have sweet memories of meals whenever we visited after moving to NJ and NY.  It is just a couple miles from the condo, and is a community gem.

We made it to campus in time for the School of International Service Open House, where we met the Dean of Greta's program, her SIS International Relations professor, and the director of the SIS career services, who had lots of tips for internships, fellowships, and such.  They also provided students with lovely business card holders and hand-churned ice cream, while they discussed how AU SIS has been Waging Peace since 1957.  Pretty inspiring!

We met up with Greta's friends and their parents to walk to Chef Geoff's for lunch, a wonderful restaurant just a few blocks from campus that can fit a party of 12 and please a variety of dietary needs with "American dishes with a twist." It was nice getting to know the girlfriends and I can see why they all get along so well. I think all of the parents were happy to thank each other for the help each kid has given to the others. The girls are having fun exploring D.C. while also encouraging each other and keeping each other grounded. It is great to see how comfortable they are together and despite having different interests, how much they still have in common.

Ella, Olivia, Greta, and Jane

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch we enjoyed a rainy walk back to campus, afternoon coffee, and the AU Gospel Choir's performance, an uplifting concert that raised the roof at Kay Spiritual Life Center. We wrapped up the evening with the Sine Institute's 5th Anniversary Event: Reimagining the American Dream.  While disappointed that moderator Jen Psaki cancelled, her former boss, Kate Bedingfield, filled in nicely.

Sunday morning came early, with us returning to campus for brunch in TDR, where the options were abundant and the GF waffles were delicious. We shared a multiple hug farewell on the quad, and were on the road at 11, where the last half of Janet E's Wife for Hire filled the first half of the drive and reflections on the weekend and lovely autumn foliage gazing filled the rest. Grateful for Mom's company and Greta's hospitality -- it was definitely a weekend to remember!