It was a quick week in Germany, but I made the most of it before heading to the USA on Thursday for the holiday weekend. The main reasons for the trip were Towson Family Weekend and a friend’s wedding, which made for a busy few days back in Maryland.
Getting there was a bit of an adventure, though, as strong headwinds turned my flight from Munich to Washington into a 10 hour journey. Between waiting forever for my luggage and the long drive from Dulles to Maryland, I was completely exhausted by the time I finally arrived. Thankfully, it was pizza night with Mom Mom, who I was staying with, and the cousins, which was the perfect way to end the day. After such a long trip, it was nice to finally settle in and spend some time with everyone.
Friday morning, my sister and I kicked things off with a nail appointment before I hit the road for Towson. I picked up Brooklyn, and we headed to Shake Shack for lunch where she caught me up on everything she’s been up to lately. Afterwards, we did some shopping to restock her dorm with a few things she needed.
It was nice to have some time together and help her get settled with everything, even if our shopping trip was more about practical necessities than anything particularly exciting. After unpacking our purchases and hanging out in her room for a bit, I made the drive back to Calvert. I met my parents for dinner at Mamma Lucia’s, then finished the evening watching Clarkson’s Farm with Mom Mom.
Saturday was all about Towson Family Weekend, so my parents and I headed back to campus for a crab feast held on the football field. There was plenty of food, including lots of crabs, pit beef, corn, and macaroni and cheese, and we even came away with some free Towson swag.
Brooklyn also gave us a walking tour of campus, which was a great way to see more of where she spends her days and get a glimpse of her college life. It is still a little strange having her so far away in Maryland while we are back in Germany, so getting to spend time with her and see her new surroundings made the trip even more worthwhile.
After our time at Towson, we drove back to Calvert, picked up Mom Mom, and headed out for dinner to enjoy some Maryland crab cakes.
The whole weekend, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to make it to Lyndsay and James’s wedding reception, and going ended up being a very last minute decision. Somehow, I managed to squeeze it in after dinner, and I am so glad I did. When I walked in, everyone looked completely shocked, as if they were seeing a ghost. 😂 Honestly, considering how long it had been since some of us had seen each other, maybe we were!
It was so good to catch up with old friends, and one of the best things about seeing everyone again is how easily we pick up right where we left off. Despite the time and distance, conversations feel just as natural as ever, and everyone was so excited to see each other. Living overseas means missing a lot of moments and everyday get togethers, so being able to walk into a room full of familiar faces and feel right at home was really special. It reminded me just how much I miss everyone and how much I miss being part of those little moments that are so easy to take for granted when you live nearby.
I wrapped up Saturday night watching The Devil Wears Prada 2 with Mom Mom before my final morning in Maryland arrived. Sunday started with coffee with Alli and some time visiting with the boys, which was a nice, relaxed way to spend the last few hours before heading back to the airport. There is never quite enough time to see everyone when I come home, but I was glad to fit in as much as I did over such a short weekend. As always, leaving came around much too quickly.
Thankfully, the flight back to Germany was much quicker thanks to more favorable winds, making the journey across the Atlantic considerably more pleasant than the trip over. I landed in Stuttgart at 10 a.m. Monday morning, tired but happy after a weekend packed with family, friends, good food, and some much needed time with Brooklyn. It was a whirlwind visit, but definitely worth the long flights and travel days.
Meanwhile, Matt and Ryan stayed “busy” enjoying a relaxing four day weekend in Germany. They hung out with the dogs, took care of a few things around the house, and Ryan made a trip to the Volksfest with his friends. While I was running around Maryland trying to squeeze as much as possible into every day, they had a much more laid back few days at home. I think they managed just fine without me!
