Our 35th reunion will take place June 13-16—which is less than four months away. Because of that nasty pandemic, we didn’t get to have a 30th reunion, so this will be the first time we’ve all gotten together in 10 years! Of course Joel Newton’s and Chris Newton’s law of Dartmouth reunions states that the depth of joy experienced by reunion attendees is directly proportional to the number of alumni who show up—the more, the merrier! Thus, this month, I asked ’90s who have already decided to attend reunion to write messages to the rest of our class, encouraging them to register. Here are your messages. Dave “Danger” Sherwood writes, “By now I think everyone’s heard about blue zones—places where people live longer due to strong community and healthy diets. Strong community is one of the greatest predictors of our health and happiness as we get older. In a similar light, Dartmouth is a green zone for all of us—the community we forged in 1986 still nourishes us to this day and gathering as a community in June will serve to strengthen that community. Live longer. Be happier. Come to reunion! And green is way cooler than blue…or brown…or crimson.” Megan Hammond writes, “Come, because if Covid taught us anything, it is that our greatest treasure is having a sense of community with people that matter to us.” John Stouffer writes, “Pretty simple message to friends on the fence: I’ll go if you go!” Josh Vogel writes, “Going to our 20th and 25th reunions dramatically reduced the power of my recurring nightmares about my actual college days. Ever since attending, even when I have missed the entire class, it’s time for the final and I can’t even get to the room to take it. Thanks to reunions, now at least I usually have my clothes on, which is so much better! This could happen for you too! Come to reunions and exorcise your demons!” Rob Crawford writes, “Contrary to popular belief, I am an introvert, not an extrovert. I have a slight fear of large gatherings such as college reunions. However, my experience at our 25th reunion revealed to me how important it is to overcome ‘reunion hesitations.’ At the conclusion of our 25th reunion, as I began my drive back home, I started bawling like a baby. Deep sobs. Why? I suspect it’s because those two and a half days in Hanover helped me rediscover the greatest rewards of life: relationships with other humans and personal growth. Plus, seeing close friends and friends I’d lost touch with and spending time with people I hardly knew when I was at Dartmouth revealed to me just how much of who I am was shaped by my four and a half years at ‘the College on the Hill’ and just how much of my heart will always be in Hanover. I suddenly realized the truth expressed in the lyrics of two Dartmouth songs I’ve sung countless times: ‘Dear Old Dartmouth,’ ‘Though ’round the girdled earth they roam, her spell on them remains,’ and ‘Dartmouth Undying,’ ‘Dartmouth—the gleaming, dreaming walls of Dartmouth—miraculously builded in our hearts.’ So, if you’re on the fence about attending our 35th reunion, it’s time to come down, down to the river. See you there!”
—Rob Crawford, 22 Black Oak Road, Weston, MA 02493; crawdaddy37@gmail.com