The Honeymoon

It was easy for me and Tomkin to decide to go to Northfield for our honeymoon. First of all, it's a very meaningful place for us--it's where we both went to college, and it's where we fatefully reunited last summer. Second, it would be an easy trip. We wouldn't have to make lots of plans or worry about catching a flight--we could set out on the 45-minute drive whenever we were ready and have a fun, relaxing week away from home. The Tuesday after our wedding, it was beautiful and sunny out--a perfect day for starting our honeymoon! We drove down to Northfield and checked into the Anniversary Suite at the Archer House. Then we walked around the Carleton campus--stopped at Dacie Moses House for a cookie, wandered through Boliou (where we ran into Alison, one of my art history professors), and even hit the bookstore. When we investigated the new recreational center, Tomkin ended up scaling the rock-climbing wall. He was awesome! That evening we had dinner at Chapati, a surprisingly good Indian restaurant. (Best Indian food I've had in Minnesota!) On Wednesday we picked up some groceries at EconoFoods and headed to the graveyard on the outskirts of town for a picnic. That may sound a little strange, but it was a meaningful place for us. Back in college, Tomkin had once taken me on a motorcycle ride (a whole group of us went), and we stopped at this cemetery. I had wondered if Tomkin might kiss me...which he didn't...although he set things right when we went back! We found a tree up on a hill and set out a blanket. Then we ate and drank, and Tomkin read Pablo Neruda love poems to me while we leaned against a tree. I think it was the most romantic day of my life. That evening we headed to Basil's for some gyros pizza--always a must when we're in Northfield! We also stopped for a drink at the Reub, one of our hangouts back in college. We ended the day by reading through the guest book that people had signed at our wedding. We literally laughed and cried at the hilarious and touching things our friends and family wrote for us. On Thursday we had to switch rooms, so we packed up and headed--appropriately--to the Carleton room. It was rainy out, so we spent the day shopping (there are so many cute little stores in Northfield now!) and then warming up with tea at the Goodbye Blue Monday coffeehouse.That night we had a delicious dinner at The Tavern. We must have been really googly-eyed because a couple actually came up to us and said they had noticed us when we came in and how happy we looked. Friday it was raining again, so we ate lunch at the James Gang Coffeehouse & Eatery and then headed home. However, even after we got back (the dogs were so happy to see us!), we stayed in "honeymoon mode" through the rest of the weekend, giving ourselves permission to just relax and enjoy being together. We lounged in our new hammock and Adirondack chairs, went to the dog park, got our disposable cameras developed, and opened more cards and gifts (including the awesome photo book that Jake sent us). The whole wedding celebration was just perfect--I hated to see it end!