Class Note 1990. I asked ’90s, “What’s something you have noticed about getting older, what’s something you do that keeps you young (or feeling young), or—if you have a philosophy about aging—what is it? Here is Part 2 of your answers.
Lou Mabley writes, “As I get older, I realize that reconnecting with old friends and reliving memories is so rewarding. I went skiing this year with some fraternity buddies at Steamboat, Colorado; played guitar in Rob Crawford’s basement; and am headed to a lightweight rowing reunion in October. What is the old poem … ‘Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver, the other is gold.’ So true.” Cathy Campaigne writes, “Becoming a parent late in life definitely keeps me young. My daughter is just turning 12. I’m always engaging with her music, fashion, and activities as well as hanging around fellow parents who are mostly 5-15 years younger than I am. Lately, I’m even learning a new language: gen alpha slang. While my daughter is the inspiration at the moment, I expect I’ll keep seeking new opportunities to learn and new people to engage for the rest of my life.”
Scott Paterson writes, “Last spring I coached 145 6- to 14-year-olds in run club (RunClubMenloPark.org), a long-distance running program for kids. This fall I’m coaching my 16th season, and the kids are amazing. They assume everyone works hard, and so do they. Last fall 20 made it all the way to the Junior Olympic Nationals in Shelbyville, Indiana, where we’ll go again on December 13. I warmed up with my girls 8 and under team at dawn—and it was 29 degrees! That was fun for them but even more fun for me (a former runner for Dartmouth). Working with these kids is joyful and keeps a kind of kid-spirit going in me!” Gary Orenstein writes, “Noticed that every year there is another health item to address! Keeping young by rekindling my backpacking and hiking interest. Made it up Mount Whitney last year; Half Dome planned in a few weeks. Not my philosophy—heard it from Chip Conley, founder of Joie de Vivre hotels—‘Think of it as a mid-life chrysalis not a crisis.’ ”
Thais Pardo writes, “I just completed my second master’s (onsite) at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. The ages of my cohort ranged from 24 to 35 and then there was me. I even lived in the dorms. However, none of my classmates or dormmates treated me as the outlier that I clearly was. I’m also a violinist with the University of Costa Rica Orchestra; thus, I have a group of very young friends. There are no amateur orchestras here, so my only option is to play professionally, which I did for 11 years. Since I travel so much as a conference interpreter, the music director at the university allows me to rehearse and perform with the music majors, which requires less of a commitment since it’s unpaid. Age should never be a deterrent to your goals! Have confidence and dare to venture beyond your comfort zone!” William Boulware Jr. writes, “I give into temptation. I remain curious. I travel. I explore. I leave my comfort zone. I laugh a lot. I spend more time with my family and chosen family. Daily, I walk on the shore, through the neighborhood, and into town, wandering the streets and paths to escape the bombardment of distractions. I prefer to live in the world than never notice how numb technology can make me and not realize life is passing me by.”
—Rob Crawford, 22 Black Oak Road, Weston, MA 02493; crawdaddy37@gmail.com