While most of our trips are inspired by TT Dad’s marathons, business trips, or amazing ideas and research, once in a while, I’m to blame.
I spent four years learning, growing, and exploring the surrounding areas of Roanoke, Virginia. I was a student at Hollins College. Halfway through my college career, the name was changed to Hollins University, but it remained a very tiny single-sex institution. At the time, there were approximately 900 undergraduate students- all female.
Many college students turn to fraternities or sororities to make a home, surround themselves in traditions, and find a close bond with a smaller group of peers. At Hollins, this was simply a way of life. Traditions were a very important part of the experience.
From Tinker Day to 100th Night, and everything in between, we grew very close to our fellow classmates- and I could go on about Hollins all day. But we’ll get back to the point. One unique tradition at Hollins is our reunion system. There is a Reunion each year, and while all alumnae are invited, the big to-do is for classes celebrating a reunion ending in 0 or 5 ( 5th year, 10th year, etc).
In late May of 2015, I returned to Hollins for my 15 year Reunion. It’s hard to believe we’d been out of the ‘bubble’ for 15 years, but it’s true. In years past, I had gone on my own, stayed on campus in the dorms, and pretended to re-live my glory days (until it was 8pm and I was ready for bed). But this year, we had twins who, at 7 months, were still breastfeeding. TT Dad’s family is in North Carolina, so we decided to make it a vacation. We’d drive down to Roanoke, spend a few days, then head to Cary, NC, for a few days to visit with his parents, and finally make our way to Wrightsville Beach, NC, to spend a few days with TT Dad’s younger sister, and her husband.
Quite ambitious for our first big road trip, right?
Stay tuned to see how it went!