Class Note 1989
Issue
May-June 2023
I want to thank again all the ’89s who wrote to me after reading my column. Thank you—the connection between all of us is truly special. Please be sure to reach out after reading this to your freshman dorm roommate, first-year trips people, or just anyone to see how they’re doing.
I’m sitting in the apartment I rented in Rogers, Arkansas, for the past six months with it packed up and will be driving back to L.A. I’m still working for Walmart, but they have opened an office in L.A. so I can commute and come out to Arkansas a few days a month. Excited for me and my family and to be able to do fun stuff such as my band again.
One of the people I heard from was Liz Kraus. She had interviewed with Walmart in D.C. and she got the job! Liz will be coming to Bentonville, Arkansas, a couple of times a year! It would be great if it syncs up with when I’m going back—and two ’89s at Walmart! Soon we’ll be gaining on Jody Warden’s Dartmouth gang at Target.
I also heard from Jeanette White, who is still a pediatrician up in Mill Valley, California, and remembered me doing a rap to Chaucer in one of our English classes—sadly, that rap, like some of Chaucer’s work, has been lost to time, probably for the better! Jeanette still keeps in touch with Karen Sprole, Christine Whalen, K.K. Lam, Jilann Spitzmiller Rogerson, Susan Morrison Lucey, Bonnie An Henderson, and Victoria Dalgliesh Kanaley.
I talked with Susan Leong Yates to ensure she was okay following the natural damage in the North Island in New Zealand (she lives in the South Island). Their landline is working again and power is on too; no cell coverage. She phoned June Ying Ping the other day and talked about how she, June, and her friends “always put our hands up and volunteer to make things happen and better for others.”
We’re a year out from our next reunion—35th! This one will be with the ’88s and the ’90s so stay tuned for more information.
Again, thank you for connecting with me and please continue to do so and reach out to other ’89s to share stories, check in, or just say hi.
—Ned Ward, 2104 Graham Ave., #B, Redondo Beach, CA 90278; ned@nedorama.com
I’m sitting in the apartment I rented in Rogers, Arkansas, for the past six months with it packed up and will be driving back to L.A. I’m still working for Walmart, but they have opened an office in L.A. so I can commute and come out to Arkansas a few days a month. Excited for me and my family and to be able to do fun stuff such as my band again.
One of the people I heard from was Liz Kraus. She had interviewed with Walmart in D.C. and she got the job! Liz will be coming to Bentonville, Arkansas, a couple of times a year! It would be great if it syncs up with when I’m going back—and two ’89s at Walmart! Soon we’ll be gaining on Jody Warden’s Dartmouth gang at Target.
I also heard from Jeanette White, who is still a pediatrician up in Mill Valley, California, and remembered me doing a rap to Chaucer in one of our English classes—sadly, that rap, like some of Chaucer’s work, has been lost to time, probably for the better! Jeanette still keeps in touch with Karen Sprole, Christine Whalen, K.K. Lam, Jilann Spitzmiller Rogerson, Susan Morrison Lucey, Bonnie An Henderson, and Victoria Dalgliesh Kanaley.
I talked with Susan Leong Yates to ensure she was okay following the natural damage in the North Island in New Zealand (she lives in the South Island). Their landline is working again and power is on too; no cell coverage. She phoned June Ying Ping the other day and talked about how she, June, and her friends “always put our hands up and volunteer to make things happen and better for others.”
We’re a year out from our next reunion—35th! This one will be with the ’88s and the ’90s so stay tuned for more information.
Again, thank you for connecting with me and please continue to do so and reach out to other ’89s to share stories, check in, or just say hi.
—Ned Ward, 2104 Graham Ave., #B, Redondo Beach, CA 90278; ned@nedorama.com