I posed a question on our Dartmouth94 Facebook page back in December: “What are your favorite Dartmouth traditions and winter memories?” The common theme was clear; Dartmouth’s tight-knit community and close friendships are front and center in each story.

Personally, I always welcomed the spontaneous study breaks in early December as we crammed for exams, had snowball fights on the Green and went sledding on freshman hill after midnight.

Pherabe Kolb shared one of her memories: “I had never seen snow before I went to Dartmouth, so I remember standing in the street in front of Mid-Mass my freshman year with my tongue out to catch the flakes.” Pherabe also fondly remembers the big Christmas tree on the Green.

One alum, who shall remain anonymous, remembers walking out into the snappy, biting morning air and having her nose hairs freeze. After quickly running into her dorm bathroom to check her face in the mirror for unwelcomed nasal discharge, she realized that she was experiencing something altogether new and perplexing. After growing up in the South, she had never experienced this disconcerting and unpleasant phenomenon.

My husband, Ken Davis, remembers “studying” in Sanborn Library with varying degrees of success and enjoying tea at 4 p.m., which quickly led to an excuse for an early dinner in the winter months (the sun sets ridiculously early in Hanover in December!).

Elissa Slovik Gaies enjoyed studying in the 1902 Room of Baker Library, though admittedly there was “more food and talk” than actual studying. “Since books were open, it counted as time spent studying.” I would roll my eyes, but she must be on to something. Dr. Gaies graduated from Harvard Medical School years ago and clearly managed to get some studying done. Elissa now lives with her family in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Though work is demanding, it may be her daughters’ competitive gymnastic schedule that keeps her the busiest. Abbie at 15 years old and Taylor at 11 years old are both devoted, competitive gymnasts.

Anne Jeffers Weber remembers our “reduce-reuse-recycle” mugs. She said that we were ahead of our time as we toted these mugs to Collis for refills. The mugs were trendsetting, but perhaps a bit unsanitary. I remember trying desperately to rinse mine with the hot water valve before a refill.

In other news, Demtra Navab Taleghani, Darcey Forbes Bartel and Elizabeth Donohoe Cook took a trip to Hanover in November to be the featured speakers for the annual Link Up dinner, which focuses on connecting women in the Dartmouth community.

Gwin Pitman Teasdale and her family have been enjoying the fresh air in the Denver area since she graduated from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Gwin is currently working with Deloitte Consulting. She has two adorable, towheaded boys; Coleman is almost 12, and Brandon is 9. Gwin would love to see any classmates who happen to be in the area.

Gwin also reports some exciting news about Kathryn Murphy. Kathryn wed Rudge Dickinson on June 14, 2015. Truly, a wedding is an excellent reason to miss our amazing reunion weekend! Jennifer Bishko, Britt Speyer Fleming, Sarah Thomas and Gwin were there to celebrate the important day with Kathryn and Rudge.

Please send me your news, updates or status-quo reports to share in the next issue of Dartmouth Alumni Magazine.

In the meantime, here’s to the hope for winter’s quick and quiet end, to the warmth of fond college memories and to the possibilities of your next trip to Dartmouth College.

—Laura Hardegree Davis, 1664 Cambridge Court, Bethlehem, PA, 18015; lauradavis723@mac.com