Homecoming

Knox College had their Homecoming the weekend of Halloween. We really wanted to go, but we didn't want to miss trick or treating in our own neighborhood. So we did the trick or treat thing here at home and visited my dad's house. We left my dad's at 9pm and headed to Cedar Rapids. We slept at my mom's and then headed over to Galesburg, Illinois Saturday morning. We got there just in time for the dedication of the football field as the new Knosher Bowl. Harley Knosher was athletic director at Knox College while were were there and for decades before us. He became Andrew's mentor and we somewhat credit him for us meeting. If it weren't for him, Andrew might not have attended Knox College and we never would have met. He retired in 2000 and we go back every June to participate in the Knosher Golf Tournament. This fall, the school refurbished the football field so that it can be used year-round and named it the Knosher Bowl.



We went thinking we wouldn't see too many people we knew. It was the 10th reunion for the class before us. We were pleasantly surprised to see many people we knew who we hadn't seen in years! It was fun to catch up with everyone. But the best part of the trip was walking around campus with the girls. It was so surreal for us to be walking around there together with our kids! For some of you who may not know our back story, Andrew and I met late September of our freshman year at Knox and dated all through school. Of course, we pictured returning to campus together one day, but I never really took the time to think about us walking around there with our kids.

After the football game, we had dinner at Sully's (an old hangout) with the golf gang and then headed back to Cedar Rapids to spend the week with my mom and Dave.
Here are some pictures from our day there.



I love this left picture. Typical sibling photo. :-) If you click on it to make it bigger, you can see Lily's pout-y face.



This is Ella and I sitting on a bench dedicated to a lovely lady, Natalie. Ha, some of you also may not know that I was in a sorority at Knox, Pi Beta Phi. Natalie was a sorority sister of mine a year ahead of me, and part of this group of 8 wonderful ladies who are wonderful friends. Though I was on the outskirts of that group, I loved hanging out with every one of them and still do, on the rare occasions I see one of them. Natalie passed away a few years ago from a brain tumor. She had survived leukemia as a child and just loved life. She was always so happy and literally enjoyed every moment and experience she had a Knox. There was never a sweeter soul. The Great 8 as they referred to themselves dedicated the bench Ella and I are sitting on to Natalie and have it placed looking out on all of campus. Natalie loved Knox and what an absolutely fitting tribute to her to have a bench where you can look out and enjoy all of Knox. I admit I got misty-eyed as I saw the bench and sat on it, thinking of Natalie. The inscription on the bench reads: Natalie Veneziano 1998 Forever in our hearts. Even without you, we will always be the Great 8.

We were thinking we probably wouldn't attend our 10th reunion next fall, but now we are rethinking that, we had such a good time.