Class Note 1985
Friends, I’m not even sure what is appropriate to write this month. We all are in the midst of unique times and, while many of us are relatively fortunate, I’m sure others are less so. We’ve all been impacted by this pandemic, none more so than those facing health issues or those with their careers and educations impacted. I feel particularly bad for those high school or college seniors missing out on the final months of their school year.
I’m sure we all feel thanks for the healthcare workers and first responders—they are doing important work for sure. What else are we experiencing? Zoom meetings, virtual workouts and happy hours, social distancing, masks, self-quarantine, learning new skills, home schooling, family dinners, all-day pajamas, horrendous beards, “be safe”….The list goes on, likely including some uncertainty, stress, concern, degree of hardship, frustration.
Who knew this would be our lives for the past two months and ongoing? What does the recovery look like? What will be the new normal? I think the answer will be different for all of us, though I’m confident we all look at relationships a bit differently and feel appreciation in different ways than we did before March. I also bet everyone is anxious to get back out to see friends, have a meal, attend a game, have our kids back at school, etc. Pretty safe assumption there.
I will share that the Alpha Chi Alpha Zoom meetings have been a huge highlight—awesome to see these brothers and connect virtually. It’s amazing how quickly old friends can seamlessly move back and forth between old stories, current events, and ribbing each other—so much has changed, yet nothing has changed. I’m sure many know what I’m talking about. And I’m sure many of you have had really good Zoom meetings too. We are isolated yet not alone.
If there ever was a time when it was expected that there would be no updates, this was it. After all, sending in classmate news was probably not on anyone’s recent radar. However, thanks to ’53 class secretary Mark Smoller, this cool nugget of news about Bridget Clark Rymer arrived. Seems Bridget is the business manager for her husband’s band, The Little Band that Could. The band, with Bridget’s husband, Brady Rymer, focuses on children’s music delivering positive messages and strong moral themes and has been nominated for Grammy Awards multiple times during the past few years. Check them out on YouTube, Spotify, or bradyrymer.com. The website indicated that Bridget and Brady live on Long Island, New York, and have two kids, Gus and Daisy. Since we know everything on the internet is true, that must be accurate.
Whatever the past few months have meant for you, I hope this column finds you safe, healthy, and perhaps enjoying a dinner at your favorite restaurant with family and friends, but certainly with each day better than the last.
—John MacManus, 188 Ringwood Road, Rosemont, PA 19010; (610) 525-4541; slampong@aol.com; Leslie A. Davis Dahl, 83 Pecksland Road, Greenwich, CT 06831; (203) 552-0070; dahlleslie@yahoo.com
