Memory Lane

In late November of 1997, my friend Tara called me.  Tara and I worked at the same bank and were planning to go to the annual company holiday party later that evening.

She had big news, though.

After our company holiday party, she had another party for us to go to...a party at "The Red Door".  Sounds like a fancy place, but it was a college house...with a red front door.  I have no idea who lived at the Red Door, but they often had parties and Tara was my direct link to any fun action.  Without Tara in college, I'm pretty sure I would have sat at home, watching reruns of House Hunters or new episodes of 20/20 on Friday and Saturday nights, eating microwave popcorn and Twizzlers.  The Freshman 15 would have been the Freshman 50.

That crisp November night, Tara and I made our way to the bank's holiday party, ate the fancy dinner they served, drank our Mt. Dews (we weren't of age at that party!), stayed for the door prizes and then quickly made eye contact that screamed to each other, "Red Door Time!!"

When we arrived, it was the usual.  Packed with college students.  Hot.  A keg in the corner.  Loud.  So college.  Fun. Fun. Fun.  We settled in, grabbed a cheap plastic cup for a cold beverage, chatted with other fun souls, and started making "rounds".  The rounds where you circle the tiny house to make sure you see everyone at the party.  We hated missing any action. 

One of the "rounds" landed us in meeting a new group of people.  A group of 3 guys that looked pretty fun.  A group that was pretty cute.  The story continues, but the details will be spared....
Little did I know, 15 years later, I call one of those 3 guys my husband, my daughter's dad, my best friend. 

This past weekend, we took Maya to visit the Red Door.

The actual door that was red is gone....but the spirit of the house being a "college house" is still alive and well!

Across the street from the Red Door is Moorhead State's campus...the college campus that Dan and I both earned our degrees....and where our love and memories started.

If felt like Freshman orientation.  Maya learned where we lived, where we ate, where we worked, what classes we went to...what classes we skipped, and even where we shared our first kiss! 

We also celebrated my niece, Jada's, 3rd birthday at Chuck E. Cheese this weekend. 

It was loud, fun and memorable.  A homemade rainbow cake, presents galore, singing, candles, love, pizza, cheers, tickets, hugs, prizes, balloons....pure joy!