A Weekend Away.

If I had a favorite place on earth I think it might be Annapolis in the springtime. Even Annapolis in the springtime in the rain. Talk about charm! Mom and I spent the weekend in Naptown, visiting some family friends, and celebrating Little Brother's Ring Dance festivities.

Life at the United States Naval Academy consists of many long-held traditions. One of those is the Ring Dance.

"In February of the 3/C [3rd Class] year, orders are taken for the individual rings. Each basic ring has the class crest on the one side and the Academy seal on the other. Mids personalize theirs by selecting the finish and ordering any stone they like, from gold plugs to diamonds. The rings are delivered in the spring of 2/C [2nd Class] year. After a trial fitting period, the mids are not allowed to wear their rings until the Ring Dance. If a firstie or alum catches a 2/C wearing it early, the 2/C owes him a beer.

The Ring Dance is the most impressive and symbolic dance at the Academy. Weather permitting, it is held on the terrace between Michelson and Chauvenet Halls. A female date wears her midshipman's ring tied around her neck on a ribbon; a male date may wear his midshipman's ring on a ribbon pinned to his lapel or on his pinkie or he may carry it in his pocket. The date dips the ring in a binnacle filled with water that has been flown in from the seven seas specifically for the occasion. When the couple passes through a giant ring replica, the date places the ring on the mids finger and gives the mid a congratulatory kiss. As a midshipman, the ring is worn with the seal inside, but after graduation the ring is turned with the crest inside and the seal outside, so everyone can read the United Sates Naval Academy. They justifiably become very proud ring knockers."

Following the Ring Dance activities Saturday night Mom and I enjoyed a low-key Sunday morning. This is how low-key it was: we woke up, late. We meandered into the dining room of Gibson's charming bed and breakfast. We made some tea. We shared portions of The Baltimore Sun and read about the 134th Preakness. We shared an English muffin, then a steaming hot blueberry scone. We made some more tea. We said good morning to the couple who walked into the dining room, then returned to our newspapers. We discussed President Obama speaking at Notre Dame. Then, with styrofoam cups in hand (filled with, what else? more tea), we ventured out into downtown Annapolis. What a perfect Sunday morning.


On the heels of such a fun weekend, I have another fun weekend coming up- a visit to California to celebrate Little Sister's graduation from college! And, what could be more exciting than sunshine, palm trees, the Pacific, and Little Sister in a cap and gown?