Lovely read. When I was college-hunting back in the mid-80s, we could only afford to visit one or two campuses in person. Fortunately, I had a clear first choice in mind: Northwestern (The Rock!). So that's where my Mom and I visited, and that's where I ended up enrolling.

Thirty-two years later, I'm (also) here in San Francisco. Childfree by choice, but still teared up at your story.