Well loved one.

Patrick and I drove Katie to college.  We navigated well until the last few miles.

Our detour took us over and under a covered bridge so that was cool.

Bennington is in the South West corner of Vermont.  

We can tell that it will be spectacular in the fall. 

Bennington is an artsy, progressive school.  I don't know if that is how they would define themselves but that's how I define it.  

The campus is so beautiful.  The dorms are white colonials and modern buildings.

There is a mix but it's very nice.  Everything is quite appealing.  I love the colonial look.  The above building has just gone through a gorgeous interior renovation.

Bottom floor has the cafe, lounge area, book store and mail.

Middle floor has the most spectacular cafeteria I have ever been in!

The drinks at the 'fountain' are all natural sodas. 

For lunch they had stir fry beef and broccoli, pizza with shrimp (they have a pizza oven), 

they had very yummy coconut ice cream too.  They flavors were odd.  But I love coconut anything.

Two of the smaller side rooms to eat in.

While we were eating, Katie's room mate happened to be sitting nearby and introduced herself.

She is a very sweet girl from Nepal!

This is winter of course.

The view from the big red building. 

Katie's dorm is the last one.

Her bedroom window faces the mountains.

Loved this cute little building.  It's the first building you see.

And you see such towering trees and the mountains all around.

 

 There are no sports at Bennington.  The book store selections are sparse.  It's very different from UW. So very different.  Seems the only thing that says Bennington College is the FONT.

I'm not kidding.

Katie is entering school with an interest in International Studies and French, and Art History.

The freshmen are placed in a group called Freshman Forum.  They will meet every week.  Katie has already found a few people she likes in her group...and her room mate and house mates are getting to know one another quickly with tons of meetings and get togethers.

She is going to do great.  I just know it.

She is such a hard worker....just like her Dad.

She does not give up.  She is curious and loves learning.   She is paying for her schooling all on her own.  She will be working on campus.

I'm so glad she has such a beautiful place to work and learn and become the best Katie she can be.

I did not cry when we said goodbye.

But I cried when she sent me this text on the drive home.

May your soul be at home

where there are no houses.

Walk carefully, well loved one,

walk mindfully, well loved one,

walk fearlessly, well loved one.

Return with us, return to us,

be always coming home.

~Ursula Le Guin


I learned of this poem when I said goodbye to Katie's big brother when he went to college.
Katie was an infant then.

I will always be saying it.
over and over again....

be always coming home,
well loved ones

Mom