Magical, unexpected, thrilling, poignant things happen at college reunions, but if you’re not there, you won’t experience them. So please come to our 35th reunion in Hanover, June 13-16! In anticipation of our reunion, I sent the following prompt to ’90s: “We have all changed a lot since we graduated from Dartmouth 35 years ago, but how have you not changed since 1990?” Below is Part One of your responses.
First, the dancers: Basia Nikonorow writes, “I still love to dance! (Gleefully remembering the loud and sweaty midweek dance nights at Collis and, later, ambling home across the Green by moonlight.)”
Baeth Davis (check out her website at www.yourpurpose.com—amazing stuff!) writes, “I’m still a weirdo who will dance just about anywhere. Also, I hope everyone has hobbies for when artificial intelligence-tech implodes. I suspect we are only going to Mars in our minds. Besides, who needs spaceships when you can communicate telepathically? See you in June!” Ute Otley writes, “I’m still competitive as hell and I still love to dance!” Jennie Wadsworth writes, “Actually, I don’t think I’ve changed at all. I’m still a spaz and spill stuff and knock into things. I’m still absurdly optimistic even in the face of grim reality and am on a continual path of self-improvement. I still love coffee, dancing, and plunging in cold water. I’m still generally introverted but get excited when I am around people. How have I changed would be the harder question.”
Next, the music lovers: Michael Keller writes, “I still listen to a lot of Rush.” Adam Bookbinder writes, “I still like all of the bands I liked in the 1980s: Springsteen, REM, Jimmy Buffett, Joe Jackson, Guns ’n’ Roses, Second Hand Jam, etc.” Roth Herrlinger writes, “I still love playing piano and giving hugs to people I care about.”
Quincy Vale writes, “Still a big, big fan of Jethro Tull.” Laura (Van Wie) McGrory writes, “A cappella music somehow still features prominently in my life. Since graduating as a Dodecaphonic I’ve sung with a women’s barbershop group and a vocal jazz ensemble. I married a member of a rival college’s a cappella group and we managed to produce two college a cappella offspring (one a Dartmouth ’22 Brovertone) and have traveled stupid distances to see their concerts. See you in Hanover soon!”
And finally, the 6-footers and the blondes: Jennifer Lowry writes, “I’m still tall—not Walter Palmer tall, of course, but I can still justify being 6’2”—especially in my running shoes and when my daughter tries to tell me that she’s taller than I am!”
Paul Haffner writes, “Well, in really good news, I’m still 6’1” and about 170 pounds (with most of my hair)!” Ali Long writes, “I’m still the unassuming, unpretentious, girl-next-door blonde from Ohio.” Elizabeth Uphoff Courtney writes, “I still like to play pickleball and make TikTok videos while I sip on my venti strawberry acai lemonade. Oh, wait: That’s not me. In any case, I am still tall and blonde, and the nicest people in my life tell me I haven’t changed a bit. I live in Southport, Connecticut, with my family and can’t wait to see everyone at reunion.”
—Rob Crawford, 22 Black Oak Road, Weston, MA 02493; crawdaddy37@gmail.com