After 13 years of homework, exams, projects, early mornings, and countless school events, graduation week had finally arrived for Brooklyn!
The week kicked off on Monday. Matt and I both had to work, and since the graduation ceremony was scheduled right during dinnertime on Tuesday, we decided to celebrate a little early with a special graduation dinner in downtown Stuttgart.
The weather has cooled off a little from the extreme heat we had been experiencing and it was a lovely evening. We made our way downtown and headed to Abacco’s Steakhouse, which is known for its unique dining experience: steaks are served on sizzling hot stones, allowing guests to cook every bite exactly how they like it, and our choice for whenever we have a big celebration. Between the delicious food, the lively atmosphere, and the excitement of the week ahead, it felt like the perfect way to kick off the celebrations.
Tuesday was graduation day. The morning was filled with last-minute errands and preparations as everyone got ready for the big event. At 2:00 PM, Brooklyn, Carter, and I headed to the graduation venue in Ludwigsburg. The graduates were required to arrive three hours before the ceremony to rehearse and put the finishing touches on the program.
Once I dropped them off, I suddenly found myself with a few hours to kill. I spent some time waiting in the car, watching the activity around the arena and reflecting on how quickly the years had gone by. It hardly seemed possible that the little girl who had started kindergarten all those years ago was now about to walk across a stage and receive her diploma.
Matt planned to arrive later with the rest of the family, who were coming up in a two car caravan. Around 4:30 PM, I began checking his location to see how the drive was going. At first everything seemed normal, but soon I noticed something strange. Not only was traffic getting worse, but he also appeared to be heading in the wrong direction. I told myself there was probably a logical explanation. Maybe he was taking a shortcut? Maybe GPS had rerouted him around a traffic jam? As the minutes ticked by, however, my confidence started to fade.
At the same time, I was becoming increasingly concerned about finding seats. The ceremony had general admission seating, and we needed ten seats together. Not wanting to risk it, I headed inside and got in line. Thankfully, I ran into some friends who came to the rescue. Together, we found ten seats on the floor and successfully claimed them before the crowds arrived.
While waiting for the doors to open, I checked Matt’s location again. That’s when I realized what had happened: He had driven to the wrong MHP Arena!
There are actually two MHP Arenas in the Stuttgart area; one is in Ludwigsburg, where graduation was taking place. The other is the large soccer stadium in downtown Stuttgart. Somehow, despite knowing exactly where he needed to be, he had ended up at the wrong one.
What followed was a frantic race across the region as Matt and another car full of family members scrambled toward the correct venue. Every few minutes I refreshed the map and watched their progress. Fortunately, after what felt like an eternity, they pulled into the parking lot with only moments to spare. Crisis averted.
And it was a good thing Matt and the rest of the group made it in time! As the ceremony was starting, a video montage of the venue and the preparations of the day was shown and Brooklyn and Carter were featured first, shown getting out of car when I dropped them off!
The ceremony itself was beautiful. The program opened with both the American and German national anthems, reflecting the international nature of the school community. Student speakers shared memories, gratitude, and hopes for the future.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for as the graduates crossed the stage and received their diplomas. What made Stuttgart’s graduation ceremony especially unique was that, rather than simply announcing each graduate’s name, they also shared the student’s plans after high school and who they wished to thank. As each senior was recognized, their senior portrait, baby photo, and a favorite quote were displayed on the big screen. It was such a thoughtful touch and made each graduate’s moment feel personal and meaningful. We really appreciated the effort that went into celebrating every student as an individual.
As parents, it’s hard to describe what it feels like watching your child reach a milestone like this. Pride, relief, excitement, nostalgia; it all seems to hit at once. The ceremony concluded with the traditional cap toss, sending dozens of graduation caps flying into the air as cheers echoed throughout the arena.
Thankfully, the event wrapped up in about two hours, and by 8:00 PM we were gathered in the lobby taking photos and celebrating.
Earlier in the afternoon, while waiting for the ceremony to begin, I had wandered over to Kullman’s, an American-style diner located next door to the arena. On a whim, I managed to snag a last-minute reservation for our entire group. Unfortunately, my aunt and uncle had an early drive back to Italy the next morning and couldn’t join us, but the rest of us gathered for a late dinner after graduation.
It was the perfect venue to celebrate an American graduation! As burgers, milkshakes, and comfort food arrived at the table, everyone took turns sharing stories about Brooklyn. Some memories were sweet, others were embarrassing, and many had us laughing until tears rolled down our faces. It was the kind of conversation that only happens when multiple generations gather together to celebrate someone they love.
Just when we thought the day couldn’t get any more memorable, those riding home in Matt’s car spotted a meteor streaking across the night sky, complete with a bright green flaming tail. It felt like a fitting finale to an already unforgettable day.
Wednesday morning arrived all too quickly. We said goodbye to Matt’s dad and Cindy as they headed to the airport. As family members began departing, the house started to feel noticeably quieter. After several days filled with visitors, laughter, and activity, the silence was impossible to miss.
That evening, my parents treated us to dinner at another family favorite: Tower 66, a Route 66-themed steakhouse in town. The walls are covered with Americana memorabilia, vintage signs, and classic road-trip décor. After dinner, we dropped Brooklyn and Carter off at school as they were departing for their senior trip to Disney Paris! Then, the rest of us headed home and spent a relaxing evening curled up on the couch watching episodes of our new binge watching show, Modern Family.
Thursday brought another round of goodbyes. This time it was my parents’ turn to head home. There were hugs, a few tears at the airport, and promises to see each other again soon before I headed off to work.
Thursday night was still a big night for Ryan, as he had his Life Scout Board of Review. The panel interview lasted more than an hour, during which he was asked about many different aspects of his scouting experience, leadership, and goals. After careful consideration, the board determined that Ryan was ready to advance to the rank of Life Scout! It was an exciting milestone and a testament to all of the hard work he has put into scouting over the years. If all goes according to plan, he is now only about six months away from earning his Eagle Scout rank.
The rest of Thursday and much of Friday were dedicated to resetting life back to normal. We caught up on chores, unpacked, cleaned the house, and tried to recover from a two and a half weeks that seemed to fly by in a blur.
My late morning Friday, Brooklyn was back from Disney Paris! They had driven all through the night on Wednesday night, arrived at the park in time for opening on Thursday, stayed all day through midnight, and then drove straight back to Stuttgart. She said it was a blast and the best way to close out High School! Exhausted, she spent the rest of the day sleeping.
Friday night offered one last chance to relax. We met Nick and Natia in Sindelfingen for dinner at Zum Rad before ending the evening at their house with a couple bottles of wine and plenty of conversation.
By Saturday, we were exhausted. But festival season in Germany waits for no one. We headed to Esslingen, where we spent the day exploring both the Strawberry Festival and the Esslingen Street Food Festival with several of my coworkers. The historic streets were packed with visitors enjoying live music, local vendors, fresh strawberries, and food stalls serving everything imaginable. It was one of those perfect summer weekends where every corner seemed to offer something new to see, smell, or taste.
Sunday was devoted to home projects. Ryan had been talking about rearranging his room for quite some time, so we finally tackled it together. What started as a simple furniture move quickly turned into a full room makeover. We sorted through clutter, reorganized storage, moved furniture, and completely transformed the space.
By the time we finished, the room felt larger, cleaner, and far more functional. Ryan now has plenty of room to spread out, and the new layout provides a much better foundation for keeping things organized in the future.
As the week came to a close, I found myself reflecting on everything that had happened. Graduation had brought family together from multiple countries, created countless memories, and marked the end of one chapter while opening the door to another. The house may feel quieter now, but our hearts are full. We couldn’t be more proud of Brooklyn and everything she has accomplished, and we’re excited to see where the next chapter takes her.
Gilcrests Abroad 