Blacksburg Visit

It has been three years since the December night we drove out of Blacksburg--two-year-old Joseph sandwiched in his carseat between boxes and suitcases, and I in the front passenger seat holding the vacuum which wouldn't fit anywhere but right up front alongside my legs.

In the three years since we left small town student life behind, I've often longed for the Blacksburg days.  Though I often search for houses online in Blacksburg, we've never returned.

For my birthday, we took a trip to Blacksburg to walk through memory lane. Joseph was a good sport to listen to us go on and on. We drove by our old houses, through campus and by Marc's building and the little spot we would meet to bring him dinner.  We showed Joseph the public library, the duck pond, the Huckleberry Trail--all the places he spent so many hours as a little one.

We didn't actually walk around downtown or around Pandapas pond or take a ride on the trail. We had forgotten how biting the wind in Blacksburg can be.

We visited The Floyd Country Store and heard some beautiful music. We shopped a little and enjoyed some treats--Joseph is still talking about his double decker ice cream cone and who can go wrong with the bakery's "carmel seduction" dessert?

We loved the hotel (Marriott really is nicer than the budget places!!) In the room, Marc pushed the kids around in the chair-on-wheels. Daddy entertainment is always the best.

We visited friends who just moved to the most beautiful home in the country. Their children are creative and smart and embody all that is good in childhood--dressing up the cat in doll clothes, playing with wooden swords, and big sister and little sister teaming up to create a restaraunt in the play kitchen. The children all immediately welcomed my Joseph and Abigail, who counted the visit as the highlight of the weekend. We sat in rocking chairs and talked chickens and goats while the children played. We will continue to dream of being like them someday.

We went to church in our old ward, where we were warmly welcomed (even from the pulpit at the beginning of the meeting). It was fun to see dear friends and familiar faces and hear the news of many who have also graduated and moved to other places. The teenagers I taught Sunday School are now married, returning from missions, working at neat jobs, approaching graduation from college. 

February 11-12, 2012