Ethan has been at BYU since January. We brought him home over Easter, and Rebecca's family flew him home for their family reunion in July. Because he's leaving for Brussels (Belgium) next week, it was time for him to come home. Seeing that Rebecca already has a car that is completely paid for, John and I thought it best if he brought the Honda home so that we can sell it. Knowing how long the drive across country is (a minimum of 30 hours), I flew out to Salt Lake City to make the drive back with Ethan.
Listen. I know that BYU is an economical lifesaver as far as college goes. Too, I know a lot of parents feel good about sending their kids there, because there is a large LDS population there (this personally does not speak to me). Geographically, however, BYU makes absolutely NO sense for those of us who live on the East Coast. I mean, honestly, that 30+ hour drive is INSANE.
Ethan picked me up at the Salt Lake City airport at 7 p.m., and we took off for Wyoming immediately. Thankfully, I had been able to move up to an exit row for the five hour flight out to Utah, so my legs weren't in too bad of shape. We got to Evanston, Wyoming, slept for a few hours, and we were off to Omaha, Nebraska. The GPS said it was a 12-hour drive, but it was longer for us. I felt terrible when we pulled into the Carlsons' home at 11 p.m.
We knew Dave and Nancy Carlson when we lived in Germany. A day didn't pass when Nancy and I weren't on the phone, complaining about this or that, or making plans for our next trip together. The beautiful thing about Nancy is that she says exactly what I feel (but am too scared to say it). When I am with Dave and Nancy, I can let down all pretenses, I don't need to carry the conversation, and I can truly be myself. I love it.
Thankfully, they had agreed to let us stay with them for the night. In fact, they absolutely insisted on it. And what a night!
Dave has quickly been climbing the Air Force leadership ladder. He has commanded several maintenance squadrons around the world and is a wonderful leader. From what I hear, the men love him and respect him, and I can tell he feels the same for them.
For the first time in their Air Force careers, Dave and Nancy are living on base. I felt terrible that they had to come to the gate to get us on base so late at night, but with Dave's rank, we didn't even need to register ourselves or our car through security--Dave just drove our car through (with Ethan), and I hopped in the van with Nance. We didn't have any idea what was in store for us once on base! At Offutt, there is a street called "Generals' Row". Although Dave is a colonel, they are still allowed the privilege of living in one of these historic homes.
I could hardly believe my eyes. A 4-story brick home, complete with a full staircase and a servants' staircase! Their German antiques look GORGEOUS in the home, and Nancy has all of her own touches around the place. Jeremy lives in his own "bachelor pad" upstairs (probably the equivalent of 1,000 square feet!) It felt like heaven to climb into comfortable German beds in our own guest room and to know that Nance had thought about every need we might have. Of course, we stayed up until 1:30 talking, so rolling out of bed at 6 a.m. wasn't exactly easy....except for the fact that Nance had made french toast, eggs and bacon for us! Man alive, we ate like kings!
I seriously had to force myself to repack my suitcase and get back in our car. I just didn't want to leave, nor did Ethan. He begged me to stay another night (which I know would have been just fine with the Carlsons), but life called. However, before we left, Ethan asked Nancy if he and Rebecca could stay with them on their return trip to Utah in January, and of course, Nancy insisted on it! It's all worked out--New Years' Eve and Day with the Carlsons.
Again, another lengthy day. We were headed to Ann Arbor to stop in and see John's sister, Beth, and his mom. We were originally planning on dinner together, but everything on this trip seemed to take us longer than expected, and we didn't actually pull into Ann Arbor until close to 9:00. Beth had made some gooey, frosted brownie deliciousness for us, and it didn't even matter that we hadn't had dinner yet--we gobbled it right up! We talked for about an hour before sadly leaving. We had a pizza with our names on it at The Pizza House on campus, so we swung by there before leaving town. Ethan was reminded once again that Michigan is where he wants to get his Master's degree.
We drove an hour down to Toledo and stayed the night in yet another hotel. When our alarm went off in the morning, we were in denial. Five more hours home? The only thing that got Ethan out of bed was the thought of finally seeing his girl again.
Agh. The construction on the turnpike. Always a summer downer.
I would like to reiterate my feelings about sending kids to BYU. It is painful. I just don't know how parents do it twice a year (which equals 120+ hours of driving to Utah and back). Saving money is great, and seeing old friends is even better, but that that drive? It's for the birds!
Listen. I know that BYU is an economical lifesaver as far as college goes. Too, I know a lot of parents feel good about sending their kids there, because there is a large LDS population there (this personally does not speak to me). Geographically, however, BYU makes absolutely NO sense for those of us who live on the East Coast. I mean, honestly, that 30+ hour drive is INSANE.
Ethan picked me up at the Salt Lake City airport at 7 p.m., and we took off for Wyoming immediately. Thankfully, I had been able to move up to an exit row for the five hour flight out to Utah, so my legs weren't in too bad of shape. We got to Evanston, Wyoming, slept for a few hours, and we were off to Omaha, Nebraska. The GPS said it was a 12-hour drive, but it was longer for us. I felt terrible when we pulled into the Carlsons' home at 11 p.m.
We knew Dave and Nancy Carlson when we lived in Germany. A day didn't pass when Nancy and I weren't on the phone, complaining about this or that, or making plans for our next trip together. The beautiful thing about Nancy is that she says exactly what I feel (but am too scared to say it). When I am with Dave and Nancy, I can let down all pretenses, I don't need to carry the conversation, and I can truly be myself. I love it.
Thankfully, they had agreed to let us stay with them for the night. In fact, they absolutely insisted on it. And what a night!
Dave has quickly been climbing the Air Force leadership ladder. He has commanded several maintenance squadrons around the world and is a wonderful leader. From what I hear, the men love him and respect him, and I can tell he feels the same for them.
For the first time in their Air Force careers, Dave and Nancy are living on base. I felt terrible that they had to come to the gate to get us on base so late at night, but with Dave's rank, we didn't even need to register ourselves or our car through security--Dave just drove our car through (with Ethan), and I hopped in the van with Nance. We didn't have any idea what was in store for us once on base! At Offutt, there is a street called "Generals' Row". Although Dave is a colonel, they are still allowed the privilege of living in one of these historic homes.
I could hardly believe my eyes. A 4-story brick home, complete with a full staircase and a servants' staircase! Their German antiques look GORGEOUS in the home, and Nancy has all of her own touches around the place. Jeremy lives in his own "bachelor pad" upstairs (probably the equivalent of 1,000 square feet!) It felt like heaven to climb into comfortable German beds in our own guest room and to know that Nance had thought about every need we might have. Of course, we stayed up until 1:30 talking, so rolling out of bed at 6 a.m. wasn't exactly easy....except for the fact that Nance had made french toast, eggs and bacon for us! Man alive, we ate like kings!I seriously had to force myself to repack my suitcase and get back in our car. I just didn't want to leave, nor did Ethan. He begged me to stay another night (which I know would have been just fine with the Carlsons), but life called. However, before we left, Ethan asked Nancy if he and Rebecca could stay with them on their return trip to Utah in January, and of course, Nancy insisted on it! It's all worked out--New Years' Eve and Day with the Carlsons.
 |
| Coolest thing EVER! Dave and Nancy have their names on a sign in front of their home! |
Again, another lengthy day. We were headed to Ann Arbor to stop in and see John's sister, Beth, and his mom. We were originally planning on dinner together, but everything on this trip seemed to take us longer than expected, and we didn't actually pull into Ann Arbor until close to 9:00. Beth had made some gooey, frosted brownie deliciousness for us, and it didn't even matter that we hadn't had dinner yet--we gobbled it right up! We talked for about an hour before sadly leaving. We had a pizza with our names on it at The Pizza House on campus, so we swung by there before leaving town. Ethan was reminded once again that Michigan is where he wants to get his Master's degree.
We drove an hour down to Toledo and stayed the night in yet another hotel. When our alarm went off in the morning, we were in denial. Five more hours home? The only thing that got Ethan out of bed was the thought of finally seeing his girl again.
Agh. The construction on the turnpike. Always a summer downer.
I would like to reiterate my feelings about sending kids to BYU. It is painful. I just don't know how parents do it twice a year (which equals 120+ hours of driving to Utah and back). Saving money is great, and seeing old friends is even better, but that that drive? It's for the birds!
We were happy Mommy and Ethan came home!!
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