The "Almost Annual" pilgrimage to Penn State (TMOART:12)

Of course, while we were back east we had to make the trip up to State College. I do it every time that I'm back there, and now it's gotten to be a tradition to put the kids on the Nittany Lion Shrine for their picture. I can't believe how much they've grown just in the past 3 years....

TMOART:09

TMOART:11

TMOART:12

They're just growing up entirely too fast.

This was The Dude's first trip to Penn State, and my first trip since the Sandusky scandal and Paterno's death. For me, it was a different experience as I thought about everything that has changed there in the past few months. We were there just a few days after the trial ended so luckily we didn't have to deal with the chaos, but it was still so surreal to walk around the campus and wonder what everyone else was thinking and feeling.

But anyway....we didn't get to spend a lot of time there because of everything else that we had to do while we were in that part of the state. So we took our photo ops at the Lion Shrine, JoePa's statue, and the wall, and then we bolted.

Weekend recap in pictures

First there was basketball. Emily's team won in overtime.

Then there was the drive to Oklahoma City. And yes, I even let The Dude drive for a while. It was stressful - not because he's a bad driver (he did fine) but because I suck at letting go of control.

Then there was the wedding...

...and the reception...

....and the afterparty...

After The Dude and I checked out of the hotel, we went to the Oklahoma City Memorial. I had been there before, but this was his first visit. The foundation from the Murrah Building is still there, and the memorial is in the footprint of the building. The reflecting pool is where the street that ran in front of the building was. At one end of the memorial is a chain link fence where people have left mementos - I had not seen that before, and it was powerful to say the least.

And just to lighten up the mood a bit...

My friend Kelly and her son Alex (you might remember them from our road trip to Texas last spring) met us and we all went out to lunch together. It was great to see them again and to visit with them - we just need to do it more often!

We left 70+ degree weather down there and headed back. We stopped in Wichita to get Daniel from my friend and then came home, driving through freezing rain and snow. Alex got here shortly after that and then we took The Dude home.

The weekend was amazing. Just amazing. The Dude and I had so much fun and it was so nice to get away, even if it wasn't for a very long period of time. It was great to really have some quality time together to just talk and tell stories and enjoy each other's company. Plus, it was nice for me to have a hottie for my date! :)

Now, it's time to plan the next road trip....which might be even more of a challenge than this one was. But, I figure that we survived this one without killing each other (and we still like each other) so we should be able to make it through a bigger one!



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Rest in Peace, JoePa.

Speechless.

In light of this evening's developments, I can't even come up with anything to say.

So I'll just share some pictures.

May, 1994 - I was 23 years old and thought I knew everything.

Beaver Stadium in the background

At the Nittany Lion Shrine (grouchy look on my face due to my mother not being able to work the camera properly)

Top of the bell tower at Old Main

I will ALWAYS be proud of this.

Me and Gramma - my biggest cheerleader in college - the day after graduation. She wanted to be there, but wasn't well enough to travel the 50 or so miles for the day. This is the last picture that was ever taken of us together - she passed away 3 months later.

Suffice it to say that I am devastated right now.

My heart is breaking for the boys who were abused. It never should have happened. I hope and pray that they are getting all of the love and support that they need as they relive the horrors of their pasts.

I hope and pray that the students (and others) who are in State College right now can keep their emotions under control. Riots and violence are not the answer to anything.

I am sad to see an amazing career end like this. It never should have happened this way.

Lastly, I hope and pray that justice will prevail.



I am - and forever will be - Penn State.