One Hundred Years

The Mount Holyoke Class of 2022 

My fiftieth Mount Holyoke reunion is now slipping into history. I've been home for almost three weeks and all that's left are memories, photographs and renewed and new friendships, which is more than enough for one weekend. But before it slips totally into memory I'm doing one more post with reflections on our sister classes of 1922 and 2022. Traditionally we are linked with the 50 year class at our graduation, which is a wonderful thread of sisterhood and education. Unfortunately I didn't get to spend time with members of our sister class of 1922 during my graduation weekend. But it was very different at this reunion where we had a great afternoon to get to know the class of 2022, and what a thoughtful and impressive group. 

I'm going to share reflections on our sister class of 1922 that I put together before my 50th.   

 I was chatting on line this week with a classmate about reunion and the conversation turned to the Class of 1922, the fiftieth reunion class at our graduation. We both remembered thinking how "old" they appeared to us in our callow youth.

But now I am that "old" and I have boundless respect for the women of '22. I did a little research and found that the lifespan in 1972 was 71.5 years. so the women who came back to celebrate were among the hardy. They'd grown up in an era without antibiotics, when childhood diseases were the norm and polio and tuberculosis were commonplace. They had just lived through a world-wide epidemic and a devastating war.

The Nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote was only two years old and the opportunity for women to attend college was an immense opportunity. The Class of 1922 lived through the Depression and a second devastating World War.

They left us a tremendous legacy of courage and determination. When I wear my whites on Saturday morning, my thoughts will turn to the graduates of 1922, who blazed a trail for us to follow.

Tomorrow I'm off for my 50th reunion at Dartmouth, where I spent my junior year. The decision to grant undergraduate degrees to women was made in 1972. It was too late for me to get my degree there, but it opened opportunities for women for the last fifty years, and we'll be commemorating fifty years of co-education. I haven't been in touch with my Dartmouth classmates as much as I have with my classmates at Mount Holyoke, so I'm expecting a different experience than I had a few weeks ago, where there were many friends of long standing to catch up with.

I'll try and share photographs, especially on Instagram and I hope to do a post or two as well. I'll be sure to catch up with all of Buttercupland when I'm back from New Hampshire next week.

As ever, thanks for visiting and see you soon!

Pink Saturday Visits Mount Holyoke College

 We're taking a Pink Saturday visit to Mount Holyoke College, where I graduated in 1972

I've just returned from my 50th college reunion and there's so much to share. I'm still sorting out the photographs -- there are a lot! -- but wanted to share just a few of the beautiful campus. The college is located in Western Massachusetts, north of Springfield. I have so many feelings, and the one I'm sharing tonight is the beauty of the campus. 

The photo bathed in twilight at the top of the post is Wilder Hall, where I lived my second year at college. It's one of the oldest dorms and in the center of the campus.  I was delighted to live there after living in a new dorm at the far end of the campus. The first dorm I lived in, 1837 Hall was new and had a beautiful lake view, but walking there in the New England winter after a night studying at the library was really, really cold. 

The Amphitheater, perfectly groomed for graduation/reunion weekend. 

My graduation took place here fifty years ago.  

  Welcome to Mount Holyoke!

The beautiful Abbey Chapel

I would be totally remiss if I didn't include at least one picture of my classmates (and me! on the far left) with the pictures of the campus. We're dressed in white to honor the Suffragettes and we're assembling before we join the Laurel Chain, an alumnae walk that brings the graduating class into the ranks of alumnae. We were very fortunate the President of Mount Holyoke, Sonya Stephens, was able to join our photograph. Sonya is wearing the bright colored scarf and most of my classmates are wearing blue scarves, knit by one of the members of the group. We also had matching tote bags trimmed in our class color, blue, and earrings also made by one of our classmates. 

There will be several more posts to come celebrating this milestone event. I am so grateful that we were able to gather in person and that friends joined us from all over the United States, and Scotland and New Zealand. My friend, Tina, fourth from right, included reunion on a trip from New Zealand to visit family. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and best wishes for the week ahead. 

You Can Go Home Again

Our formal class portrait

 

I'm now back from Reunion and I've slipped back into "real life."  I've slept in my own bed for three nights -- not missing the dorm mattress at all -- grocery shopped and begun to catch up with a dozen other errands. But more often than not, I find my thoughts turning back to the Reunion weekend. I expected to have a good time and enjoy spending time with classmates, but the experience far exceeded my expectations. There was a connection and warmth that surpassed any previous reunions -- which I've enjoyed -- and presents a path into the future.  

 

One of the highlights of the weekend was the Alumnae Parade. Each class that is present marches with the class banner and signs through the campus. We wear white to honor the Suffragettes and an accessory in our class color. The colors alternate -- red, blue, green, yellow -- and my class wears blue. For our fortieth reunion we had bright blue shawls and for this reunion gardening aprons complemented our look.  In the to-do of getting organized in the morning I left mine in my room, so I'm not quite properly attired. 

 

We had dinners, lunches and brunches and this is one of my favorite pictures from the weekend. I'm with my friends Anne and Peggy and Anne's daughters at our Saturday night dinner.

The Class of 1952, back for their 65th Reunion

After my class marched we stood at the sidelines and cheered for the classes of 1962, 1952 and yes, 1942. The women of 1952 are in their late 80s and I was impressed by their energy and enthusiasm.
There were golf carts for those who weren't able to do the walk -- about three quarters of a mile -- but most of the group walked the march route. Reunions are done on two weekends, so we didn't get to see the members of the classes of 1957 and 1967, who returned to campus the weekend before for their fiftieth and sixtieth reunions. 

I feel incredibly grateful for the good health and well-being to be able to be part of this weekend. Our class genuinely likes spending time together and we are planning (at least) four smaller reunions across the country before our fiftieth. We've met in Wilmington, Delaware and Richmond, Virginia in the last few years, but we're now looking towards the West coast to be more geographically inclusive.

Today is the last day of May and the wrap-up for the Mile A Day in May Challenge. I'll be back in the next day with my numbers and information about the giveaway. I've been keeping track and for me, May has been a terrific month for walking. I hope you've had a similar experience. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care. Have a wonderful Wednesday!
 

Forty Years On

I had few expectations for this reunion. All I hoped to do was have an enjoyable time and catch up with my college roommate, Jane, and our friend, Jeannie. I had a place of sadness in my heart about my college days and did not expect that it would or even could be filled. Recently I had become friendly, via email, with another classmate, Mona, who assured me that reunions were a wonderful way to relate to the college as an adult. I acknowledged her advice, but didn't think it would work for me. 

The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum

Preparing to march in the Alumnae Parade

The officers of the class of 1972 

My sadness centered around losing touch with some of my closest friends from college. I found it difficult to imagine returning to the college without my entire group of friends. Mona's advice was very clear, "Don't worry about it. You will make new friends." I doubted that people would be that friendly. I was wrong about this and Mona was completely correct. 

Our class, on the left, cheers on the class of 1947

What a warm, friendly and bright group of women! It was a wonderful weekend. I found the parade particularly moving, especially when I saw the women of the class of 1947 who had returned to campus. I so hope to be able to return to campus for my 65th reunion. We had a reception at the Art Museum, a formal dinner and ceremony in memory of our classmates who have died, a class meeting and a terrific program on the next phase of our lives. We also had warmth, laughter, concern and caring. Whatever sad feelings I had are now in the past. 

It isn't often that we have an opportunity to move so completely forward into the future, without sadness or regret. I was given that opportunity this weekend and I am profoundly grateful.  Here's to my our 45th!