This month I asked all ’90s, “What did you learn about yourself or about life in general—or about anything—from participating in the 25th reunion experience?” I asked this question because I certainly learned some important things that weekend. I learned that time is an illusion—25 years felt like a long time and it also felt like only a moment. I learned that it’s true that “the granite of New Hampshire is made part of them ’til death” and I learned that your friends from Dartmouth become a permanent part of your heart. Here’s what others learned. Mark Sternman: “I learned that getting behind Walter Palmer in the line for pizza, when there’s very little left, leaves one with an empty stomach. Later, after falling on and off the Goat Trail, cutting my hand and getting lost on the golf course, I learned that neither my body nor my mind are as agile as they used to be.” Parker Karnan: “I learned that I should have brought some white capris to wear at the reunion.” Lauren Kehoe: “How old and crotchety would I sound if said that I learned that kids at Dartmouth today are spoiled—living in dorms that have elevators and air conditioning! I lived on the fourth floor of McLain in the River Cluster as a freshman and I had stairs and a window that stayed open year-round!” John Banks: “That you’re never too old to make new friends. I had as much fun meeting ‘new’ classmates as I did seeing old friends at the reunion.” Mary-Es (Anderson) Beaver: “I learned that I would be perfectly happy with four more years surrounded by you all! Let’s all take our kids’ college funds, move to Hanover and take some more classes and dance on the lawns at night! Thank you to all who made that weekend possible!” Jessica Silver: “I discovered that I am more comfortable with myself. I did not have that awkward, ‘Am I a loser?’ feeling during the times I roamed the campus alone—I just enjoyed it. I did not feel compelled to impress anyone. I discovered that I was not the only one who just wanted to go to bed at 11 p.m.—and we were all good with that.” Rebecca Baggett: “I learned that my college crush on all of the Second Hand Jam guys was reignited the moment I heard them play ‘Brown Eyed Girl.’ ” Scott Facher: “My learning-reminder was about how having Brad Drazen and Jono Sollinger in my corner as alleviative pre-performance anxiety aides, followed by a mini-burger buffet lunch with Caroline Choi, is invaluable when I’m nervous (in this case about playing music for the poignant memorial service organized by Brad and Bill Levin).” Hallie Brooks: “Truly, in the Dartmouth family, there is no parting. Returning to Dartmouth feels like coming home—seeing old friends, enjoying the natural beauty of the College, reliving old memories and making new ones (thank you, Second Hand Jam members past and present!). The dedication of the new boats to the rowing program and the memorial service reminded me to stay in contact with friends and enjoy the richness they bring to life, because sometimes our time with them is short.” Kristin (Kelly) Karas: “Age is a concept.” Ingrid Wecht: “The 25th reunion for me was beyond my expectations! There was such an unbelievable feeling of warmth and connection that can only be described to people who have that same shared experience. Loved every minute of it!”

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