Writing my way to enlightenment...: Reunited and it felt so good

I recently visited my alma mater, East Carolina University. It was a quite strange experience, compared to my past visits, for two very important reasons: 1. I went for professional reasons (that word was not even in my vocabulary from '96-'00), and 2. I went without my girls (can I get a shout out to the ECU Women's Soccer Team?!).

I want to share my trip via pictures because I think it will capture it best. For my soccer girls, you will nod knowingly and laugh. For anyone else who has never visited Greenville or never attended ECU, well, you're just outta luck on this one!

First, getting to Greenville has never been easier, so I captured my excitement with the road signs that let you know...you are about to enter a part of N.C. that has nothing else, and I mean nothing, besides ECU.

Then I had time before checking in to take a quick tour and found some familiar landmarks. Note: tour lasted all of 10 minutes...ah, I remember thinking how big and far things were! Nope, Greenville Blvd., 5th St., 10th St., Memorial Dr., Evans, Arlington, Red Banks, and that's it!

THE Krispy Kreme (now within a block of a Starbucks). THE sleek new buses (that we hated b/c they were too slow and never came when there were supposed to, or we loved b/c they graciously waited to take us back to College Hill on certain nights). Speaking of the hill...

It's still really, really, really long. Was it the 4 mile loop that included this? Ugh.

Okay, back to our cute downtown. I only recognized three names: UBE, Boli's, and Alfredo's.

And good old Dowdy Ficklen, where I think I spent more time "snaking the stadium" than attending football games in it.

Where the glory began and ended. Still no lights. Still called Bunting. Still as close as one can get without actually being directly behind home plate of the baseball field..."Fly ball! Look out!!"

Despite all the things that have not changed, I was shocked at one thing that had changed. I am proud to say that Greenville is now serving more than just South Paw and Bud Light.