Oh where oh where has my little self gone? Oh where oh where can I be?
I’ve been bouncing around a bit recently. Lots of things to tell.
I went to an outdoor pool in Podoli (in Prague) with Caroline a few days before I came back to the U.S. I got a brilliant and very uncomfortable sunburn. I’m only just now peeling.
I left Prague on a plane (after a farewell kiss from Caroline) on the 13th. The primary purposes of my return visit to the U.S. are twofold: 1) my Carleton College 5-year reunion and 2) my best friend from said college is marrying another excellent friend of mine in the middle of July. So far, one down, one to go.
My flight back was two-part – Prague to Amsterdam and then Amsterdam to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The thing with European airports, as opposed to American airports, is that security clearance is at each individual gate rather than up front. Schipol (Amsterdam’s airport) is no different. After I had cleared security and entered the waiting area for the plane, I went into the toilet…
Where I saw a dreadlocked guy. I looked only briefly at first, but something was familiar. Completing the double take I thought “hmm, that could be Holger” (a fellow ’01 Carleton alum) “but his hair is way too long and, um, dreadlocked…”
Double-thinking my double-take, I stopped and waited for the guy to turn around and indeed, it was Holger. So my 5-year Carleton reunion started a few days early. It turned out, Holger’s seat was merely one row up and across the aisle from me, so we caught up during the flight. (Plus, it was an Airbus in which every coach seat has its own entertainment system, which is an excellent distraction while flying.)
Mom is a Carl (henceforth my term for a Carleton alum and/or student) as well. She’s class of ’66. I’m class of ’01. Since reunions run in 5-year cycles, it means that we are also on the same reunion cycle.
She flew up on Thursday (15 June) for reunion and, after some hassle involving forgotten driver’s licenses and getting to and from the airport, we headed straight down to reunion 2006.
Since it was my first reunion, I didn’t know what to expect or even whether or not I’d like it.
It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it immensely – I reunited with people I haven’t seen in ages. I met people I never talked to when we were in school together. The amazing thing about Carleton is how “jocks” were friends with “granola” who were friends with “preps” who were friends with “punks” who were friends with “nerds” – as a matter of fact, those distinguishing characteristics are irrelevant. As far as I can tell, those distinctions don’t exist at Carleton. Everybody is equal and equally inventive in their ways of being.
I had the opportunity to walk around barefoot for four days – when I was at Carleton as a student I would walk around without shoes quite often, so just being able to do it again for a few days was excellent. Short story shorter – I really enjoyed reunion and I’ll definitely be doing it again.
After leaving reunion, my mom and I joined my dad and my grandmother at my brother and his wife’s house for a barbecue. You get all that?
On Monday, Mom left for Kenya (again).
On Tuesday morning, my dad, my grandmother and I drove up through Duluth to the North Shore of Minnesota. On Wednesday morning, we hiked up Oberg Mountain. That afternoon, we went into Grand Marais, the start of the Gunflint Trail.
Quote of that day: “I think I’ll do this until I’m 95 and then I can start getting old.” - 92-year-old Carol Robertson
On Thursday morning, I watched the Czech-Italy World Cup game as my dad and grandmother went for a hike along the Temperance River. After lunch, we went for a drive up the North Shore past Grand Marais. At one point, we stopped for almost two hours as dad and I played in the Kadunce River and rearranged its entry into Lake Superior, with help from project supervisor Grandma Carol Robertson. After which we drove to the Canadian border (without actually crossing) and walked the short hike to see Pigeon Falls.
Yesterday morning, we left mid-morning for the trip back here. We stopped for a hike around Shovel Point, somewhere North of Two Harbors.
I had a fantastic time on the trip and I cannot and will never be able to accurately express how appreciative and amazed I am of my grandmother.
And after all of this, I have hundreds of photos (and a few short video clips) to sort through. Maybe someday I'll post some of 'em, especially to prove the beauty of the North Shore, for those unfamiliar with it.
Posted by iain at June 25, 2006 12:28 AM