Tag Archives: Virginia

Summer flashback: weekend in Virginia

The first weekend of my visa run to Washington D.C., I caught the train to Williamsburg, VA, to hang out with a special friend and her family. Cami and I go way back. High school besties in Germany and college roommates in Kansas, we’ve maintained a close relationship ever since. She’s like the fourth Dickinson sister, and I claim a spot in her family, too. Failing at my traditional godmother duties, I was promoted to “fairy godmother” and more recently “zombie godmother,” and I love Cami’s two kids to the moon and back.

Here we are at church, where Quinn sang in the choir, Denison received a Bible and Cami got recognized for teaching Sunday School. Despite Cami’s dad’s prediction, lighting did not strike when I walked through the door. The lovely little Abingdon Episcopal Church was built in 1650 on land donated by George Washington’s grandfather.

At Busch Gardens for Quinn’s birthday, Cami and I tried to take a selfie with our KU Jayhawk. It took several attempts.

At the train station the next day, Quinn gave us a selfie lesson. She was clearly an expert.



I wish we could have spent more time together, but I’ll take what I can get.

DC, VA and Baltimore

Last Tuesday, I rode from Michigan to Alexandria, VA, with my sister, Meg, in her monster truck. I think she had hoped I would drive for part of the journey, but dang, that truck is intimidating. So I didn’t. Instead, I let the pregnant lady drive while her sweet German shepherd, Sophie, and I napped.

How fun is the D.C. area?! Geez, I need to spend more time there. I attended a three-day workshop – What’s Different About Teaching Reading to Students Learning English? – offered by the Center for Applied Linguistics. I took away some good stuff to use right away when school resumes next month.

Meg and I met up with my friend and AES colleague, Katrina, in Georgetown for dinner.
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We rode bikes into Alexandria’s Old Town and browsed in the King Street shops (including a cupcake break).
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On my last day in town, we drove to Baltimore (the GPS took us on the “scenic route,” which I’m pretty sure included locations used in filming some of the grittier scenes in “The Wire”). Sarah, one of my dear friends from our days in Turkey, introduced Meg and me to her husband, Nate, and their 7-day old son, Samuel. Like an IDIOT, I did not take any photos, but I will add some here when she sends a few of her own. I also failed to take any shots at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, which is fantastic, although mobbed.

Now I’m back in Michigan … for ONE day. Tomorrow, Tony and I road trip to Canada for the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford. No rest for the weary.