Dear Spring Break...

Dear Spring Break, I miss you a lot. We had some amazing times together. I know it's been more than a decade, since those good times, but time doesn't make me miss you any less. You were such a welcome break from my super hard life, of having nothing to do but go to school and have my parents pay for everything. I needed a break after all that stress. I mean, it's hard being in a Senior in High School with all your friends, thinking you are so much cooler than everyone else, because after all you managed to get to the 12th grade, and that makes you an official bad ass. I am not sure why my parents signed off on our little weekend getaway to Ocean Shores, but I am sure glad they did. Maybe they just wanted a weekend away from all these people. Remember how much fun we had, getting kicked out of that hotel room. Good times, Spring Break, Good times. What is really awesome, is that I am still great friends with these people today.

Katie Bresnan, Heather Kunkle, Lana Lervick, Jess Hilton, Joey Distafano, Me (why am I in sweats?), Lillianna Sundt, Kris Anderson. (not photographed Paula Bates, Josh Seaberg, Casey Hayes)

But our love affair didn't end there. Enter college life. Talk about needing a break from all that studying (Pullman snow) I was doing. I practically lived at the library. (frat houses and bars actually). With my three partners in crime, Sarah, Carrie and Colleen in tow we decided to cross state lines for the ultimate road trip. Remember the 23 hour drive to San Diego? The trip to Tijuana? Oh, Spring Break I wish I could share all the stories of this trip, but families read this blogs, as do my parents. Let's just say, fun was had by all, and leave it at that.

This was the ultimate "What were we thinking?" trip.

Sometimes I wonder how we made it back alive.

News flash! Parts of San Francisco are really dangerous, and hotels are really expensive. Who knew?

Just when I thought, I couldn't love you any more, Spring Break, you took me to Vegas. I had actually been to Vegas once for my 21st. birthday, courtesy of my parents, but going with "The Girls" was a whole new experience. We didn't win big, but we came away with some great stories. I love VEGAS.

Spring Break wouldn't have been the same without these girls.

We thought this guy looked enough like Adam Sandler to get our picture taken with him and hang out at the Luxor until breakfast was being served.

Although, I didn't want it to, I knew our time together was coming to an end. One last fling, before Spring Break was just a distant memory. Go big or go home. Mexico here we come. About 40 WSU students all went to Mazatlan together. Hey, Spring Break, were you mad at me or something? Because on this trip, I hurt my foot (jumping onto the beach from a bar window), fell in a fountain (trying hard to look like an ugly American), and got violently ill (just wanting and excuse to fight over the bathroom with Colleen). Despite these mishaps we had a great time. It was a perfect way to end my time as a "spring breaker".

The only college pictures of us where we are not ghostly white.

And yes, that is the same dress from Spring Break 1998, and it was bought Spring Break 1997.

Well, Spring Break, my old friend, we had some great times, and sometimes I really miss you. But, you are wild, and you never sleep, and you drink too much, and make bad decisions. I could never keep up with you now. I am old, and tired, and a mom. It was great while it lasted, and I will always remember my time with you fondly. Love, Gina