Goodbye, HGS!

I've arrived home safely after my 12th year at HGS as a counselor. It has been a very long day, starting when the alarm went off at 5:45. The county counselors made a quick McDonald's stop and headed to the Hulman Center to prepare for the girls' rehearsal. We ran them through everything and were back in the dorms about 10:45. Everyone ate quick box lunches, changed clothes, and headed back to stadium at 12:00 for the Honor Day program. We took time out to take some pictures all dressed up. Here I am with my beautiful roomies. We have had such a wonderful week, and these ladies are some of my very best friends. I miss them all year long - I usually only get to see them once or twice in between time.
These are the five county counselors - we look so happy because our job is essentially finished at this point. Just get the girls in the seats, and then back out to their parents, and head home!
Julie and I have both made it to county counselor status, but started out together 12 years ago as city counselors. I'm so lucky to count her among my friends!
Here's my dear friend Monica (and Sophie's godmother!). We have tons of fun together every year!
After Honor Day, we headed back to the dorms to get all 598 girls checked out and on their way. I loaded up, gave hugs, and hit McDonald's. I was on I70 by 4:20. I made a stop at Edinburgh - ostensibly for the bathroom, but I may or may not have hit the outlet mall briefly as well. I was home by 7:30. I went back to McDonald's to grab dinner for the boys, since they were waiting on me to eat. That's right - I've been to McD's three times today. Yuck.
I'm glad to be home safely. Tony has cooked our tradition HGS-return dinner of steak on the grill, and I have an adult beverage at my side. The kiddos were so glad to see me, especially Sophie. She grinned from ear to ear for the longest time. Each time I went out to the car to bring something in, she cried "Mommy" until I came back, and then grinned some more. It's nice to be missed!
We have made a pact this year to get back together more often. Tony and I plan to head to Indy one night this summer, and we're hoping to host some of my friends for Thunder and Derby in the Spring. I wish my friends lived closer, but I'm lucky that when I do see them we get to be together in such an awesome setting.