In June our class spent a magical weekend in Hanover under the white tents. There was music, there were toasts, there was sushi on Baker lawn and there were many, many wide-eyed children. We remembered classmates lost and explored a still recognizable but transformed Hanover Plain. Our class gift exceeded expectations and Meg Sommerfeld, our reunion chair, was the understated master of ceremonies. Dartmouth cast its spell on us again and on the next generation.

I asked our classmates for their favorite 25th reunion memory. Kevin Roon: “Sharing small but important things we did for each other that turned out to mean a lot 25 years later.” Jane Varner Malhotra: “Reminiscing under the tent with crazy, dear old friends. My belly is still aching from laughter.” Dana Weintraub: “Sharing Dartmouth with family, reconnecting with old friends, making new friends, hanging on the Green, Second Hand Jam, pickup soccer, cherished memories of those no longer with us.” Rebecca Baggett: “Seeing old friends and meeting new ones. And working with Meg Sommerfeld and the rest of the reunion committee!” Ed Whittemore: “I assume many have said Second Hand Jam, and they would be right. My favorite parts were my son’s reaction to the whole thing (the tent, other kids and the Lou’s and EBAs food), a Friday afternoon round of golf with seven Alpha Delta buddies and tent time.” Hallie Brooks: “Reconnecting with the College, the beautiful campus and outdoors, friends old and new, reunion row and Second Hand Jam!” Jen Gittes Taplin: “The joyful energy was palpable! Dartmouth will simply always be a beloved home to all of us who lived and learned there.” Sarah (Jacobson) Lennon: “Coming onto campus and remembering one of the reasons why I loved being at Dartmouth in the first place—the beautiful environment. Walking to the river Friday night and feeling at peace (as well as excited to see everyone). Spending some time sitting by Occom Pond and just listening to nature.Also listening to the Aires Sunday morning singing the alma mater, arms around each other and feeling surprised at the tears in my eyes but relieved that I wasn’t the only one.” Julie Urda: “Second Hand Jam’s wonderfully long set where for two hours we all got to be 21 again (bootleg recording on class Facebook page!).” Clayton Gates: “Playing Ultimate on the Green and singing Dartmouth songs with other Glee Club alumni on the steps of Dartmouth Hall.” John Aronsohn: “Reconnecting with old friends feeling like only hours had passed instead of years and seeing our kids love the College every bit as much as I did at my father’s 25th.” Marcus Jacob Weiss: “Heartbroken I could not attend, I found a Post-It on my car window yesterday: ‘Wah-hoo-wah Give a Rouse.’ Coincidence? Maybe. Consolation? Definitely!” Laurin Grollman: “Feeling the Dartmouth spirit in so many warm, friendly people and the fresh New Hampshire air. Wish it had been longer!” Cheryl L. Shepard: “We’re finally at a stage that, instead of asking what you’re doing, people asked how you’re doing. We’re ready and able to connect at a more personal, deeper level again and it’s easy to remember why Dartmouth and Dartmouth people are so special.” Mary-Es Beaver: “I loved all of it—seeing so many friends, the river, the laughs, the Jam-ing, the dancing, being at college again.” Meg Sommerfeld: “Everything!”

—Rob Crawford, 47 Black Oak Road, Weston, MA 02493; robertlcrawford@yahoo.com; Walter Palmer, 87 South St., Rockport, MA 01966; palmerwalter@mac.com