Reunion Notes

Not so much new with David (also ’83) and me since our last reunion. From our South Minneapolis bungalow, we keep the many plates of work, family, and community responsibilities spinning somewhat successfully. We are looking at a major life change in the very near future as our daughter is about to graduate from high school and fly the nest.

The entire family is deeply immersed once again in the college search process. It's been interesting to witness the development of criteria and weighing the many options that are "out there." It reminds us of our journey to Mac, the values we brought with us, those that were born or nurtured there, those that continue to inform our life choices.

So, what are we up to? Hmmm…

David: Works in the lab, leads boy scouts, plans bike and canoe trips, chauffeurs, coordinates camp re-forestation, keeps the cars running, tends to the many systems that keep our house going…

Maureen: Works in marketing for an architectural firm, leads PTA, participates in church choir and various church committees, improves Irish and practices French, supports local theater and musicians, works on Reunion 2008…

My Mac Memories:
I have a terrible memory, where faces and feelings stick but names and details fade. Still:

• The crew from 3rd Bigelow freshman year are the friends who remain close.
• Realizing that I was no longer the “big fish in the pond,” but more like a “pretty okay fish in a brand new pond” was quite the come-uppance. I think that happened the third day of class Freshman Year.
• The study abroad term in Southern France — and all the associated solo travel — forced me to grow up and depend on my own wing strength.
• Working in the French Department taught me diplomacy.
• Daring to push myself into scary classes (Econometrics!) when I wasn't sure of success — doing so took courage I didn't know I had.
• Living in the French House taught me humility (too bad it came so late in the game).
• Every interim class - Fathers, Paris, Photography, Godspell — was an opportunity to run full force in a brand new direction for just a little while.
• The summer working for the Admissions Office helped me see the school in a new way and understand just how attached I had become.
• The endless opportunities to hear and test ideas and theories with others, often late at night, often with folks I had never met before, helped me see ever more shades of gray.
• Mostly, the snippets of lectures from so many teachers that helped solidify my worldview and discover my place in it.