Hard to Be Sad

After a magnificent Mount Hermon summer and a couple weeks of recharging at home, it was time to bring Ella back where she belongs.  This felt completely different this year!  Last August there was so much Anticipatory Grief, so much anxiety about the unknown.  This year we know what good things await; I was actually looking forward to returning her to her Happy Place!

We rolled into LA late Thursday night.  Last year we made an impulsive trip to Downtown Disney for dessert at 10:30 pm after saying goodbye to Ella.  It became such a core memory, we decided to make this a new tradition!  Each year that we drop Ella (and possibly Delia) off, we'll try a new dessert while watching the exhausted Disney guests leaving after a long day-- best people watching ever!  So many tired princesses! :)  Last year we enjoyed a decadent Crazy Shake, this year we sampled Salt & Straw ice cream.  Next year we're excited to try beignets from the New Orleans Jazz Kitchen.

On Friday we had to make it to Anna's neighborhood to pick up the load of Ella's stuff she generously stored for us over the summer.  Unfortunately, our timing was super tight on this trip and the window we were available did not match Anna, so we didn't get to see her.  But, we did have a lovely visit with Derek and their sweet pup Winston!  Since we were on this north side of the city. we made some special outings here too.  We stopped at the Glendale Galleria to stock Ella up on Target supplies...and take advantage of this mall's fun Decades Photo Booth!  Delia is so expressive, I just love her.  Which one is your favorite?!

Then we grabbed lunch at a place that's long been on my LA List-- Din Tai Fung.  This Taiwanese restaurant specializes in soup dumplings and has award-winning locations all over the world.  It was as delicious as we hoped.

Friday night was spent with Gideon and his family!  They kindly invited us to their gorgeous beach home for dinner and games.  We've gotten to connect with them a few times now and always enjoy getting to know one another better.  They are funny, smart and so easy to hang out with!  After dinner we walked a few blocks to pick up homemade cinnamon rolls from their favorite local bakery and then eat them while watching the sun set over the Pacific.  Last year, on this Friday night, we cried our eyes out at the Goodbye Communion Service, worshipping with lumps in our throats and speaking blessings over Ella while holding her in long, tight hugs.  This year, on this Friday night, we laughed and played Code Names with the people Ella's community has brought into our lives!  So much happens in a year!

Saturday morning it was time to get Ella moved into her new dorm!  This year's home is for non-freshman.  Her whole friend group was able to relocate here.  It's her school's newest and nicest dorm and it's known to have a "fun vibe"!  We felt it!  As soon as we walked in, loud music was playing, and lots of happy friend reunions were happening!  Ella lives on the top 5th floor, so we made friends in the elevators and stairwells while hauling all her stuff up! :)

I love helping get her room set up.  It's good for my mental health to drive away picturing her home and knowing she has a cozy place of respite in her busy schedule.  Her roommate, Emma, is a good friend from last year.  Emma was working all day and will move in a little later.  She has some questionable financial stuff going on, though, and is actually not positive she can afford the whole year, so maybe say a little prayer for Emma (and Ella who is heartbroken to think of another situation where a roommate doesn't last all year).

Anna and Derek stored Ella's saucer chair, her favorite dorm item, and were SO kind and generous to actually buy and surprise her with a second matching one!  Ella was pumped to make this darling little seating/coffee area with her two chairs, right under her window with the palm tree view and Southern California sunshine pouring in!

Dave had church responsibilities on Sunday, so we had to head out by Saturday afternoon.  Goodbye this time happened on her dorm lawn.  It was a happy farewell with not a single tear shed and Gideon promising to take good care of our girl.  Even though goodbye is always bittersweet, our goodbye means Ella's hello!  Hello to her beloved community.  Hello to her boyfriend.  Hello to a perfect-for-her-job (bio lab tech).  Hello to exciting, challenging classes, like OChem, Genetics and Weaponless Self Defense.  Autumn, Gideon's mom, said it perfectly as we texted on the ride home: "It's hard to be sad when they're so happy to be back."