Even with all the bright light streaming in through the blind, I managed to sleep, on and off, until 7am. I took a walk to the breakfast area – the students no longer eat at the "Union;" all freshman meals are now served in Annenberg Hall which is located adjacent to Memorial Hall. But, I couldn't linger. I had to solve my lack-of-phone problem. Since I’d had no luck getting anyone to answer the lost cell phone, it was time to head over to the nearest AT&T store and buy another device. I walked over to Harvard Square, and took the "T" to the Fresh Pond Mall. I was able to get my cell phone number transferred onto a $15 phone, and I was back in business.
I had plans to meet my Boston-based friend, Sheryl, this morning. So, instead of meeting in Harvard Square as planned, I asked her to meet me at the Fresh Pond Mall. Since I still had some time, I took the opportunity to do some shopping. I did a drugstore run and picked up all the essentials that are hard to find or too expensive in Rome: sun-block, dental floss, deodorant, etc. Then, I went to Trader Joe’s. The kids will (hopefully) appreciate the pancake mix and maple syrup. I also bought a bag of raw almonds for myself. Both the CVS and Trader Joe’s were beautiful -- large, wide aisles, well-marked, clean. It did make me miss the ease of shopping in America.
Sheryl finally arrived (traffic), and we drove back to Harvard Square together. It was so great to see her. She was kind enough to bring along all the “stuff” that I had shipped to her from my on-line orders. Once we “paahked the caah near Hahvad Yahd” we walked over to my dorm room to drop off all the goods. We ended up hanging out there, talking to my roommate Mary Jane, and trying on the new clothes from the GAP. Too soon, it was already time for lunch and Sheryl had to head home.
Today was to be a “house lunch.” Meaning an opportunity to eat lunch in "houses" where we'd lived for the three years after freshman year, and reconnect with house-mates. Unfortunately, Mary Jane and I had walked all the way down to Eliot House, before she remembered that we were supposed to pick up the “box lunch” in Mem. Hall beforehand ie. very far away. Still, given the long lines at all the fast-food places in the Square, we schlepped up to the Yard, and picked up what ever was left over to eat, and walked back down to Eliot a second time.
The turnout for the “house lunch” was not too great; and I spent the entire time talking with Anne’s husband, Marcus -- our close friends from Chicago. Even better than seeing old classmates that I haven’t been in touch with for the past 5, 10, or more years, was spending time with good friends that I have been in touch with, but haven't seen since we've been living in Rome.
After eating, I visited my "home away from home" during college: Kirkland House. I had just as many, if not more friends that lived there during college and unlike the turnout at Eliot House, many of them were there for lunch today. One of them, now an orthopedic surgeon, was kind enough to walk back to the Yard and up to my dorm room with me in order to look at an x-ray of Josh's leg. This morning, Josh finally went to see an orthopedist in Rome. The wounds in his leg had still not healed properly. The doctor took an x-ray and concluded the hardware was causing an irritation and must come out. Josh emailed the film to me, and I was able to get my friend to give him a second opinion -- over the phone. It's great to have email (clearly something that didn't exist 25 years ago), and nice friends in all lines of work.
By now, it was time to get ready for the evening's outing. Once we'd both changed, Dr. Scott came back by and we walked down to the Charles Hotel where we were meeting many of our friends (Bruce, Carl, Dave, Kurt, Barry, Kat, George) for a drink. From there, we walked across the river to the indoor track facility where our dinner was being held. I was able to chat with Kathleen and her husband Chris. It was an early dinner because by 6:45pm we had to be on board one of the dozens of school buses parked outside for our "police escort" to Symphony Center. Harvard had bought out the Boston Pops for the evening, and the 25th reunion class was treated to a customized performance including, you guessed it, some talented members of our own class and the class of '75! On the bus I sat with Greg. At the concert I sat with Ben, Heidi, Anne and Marcus. While the performance was nice, we felt a little itchy towards the end, so Ben, Heidi and I ducked out and grabbed a cab back to Harvard Square. They went in search of food. I went to the 20th reunion party at Kirkland House to see my sister and brother-in-law. Their reunion party seemed somewhat sparsely attended, but the fresh fruit, brownies and fresh whipped cream were great for dessert. Oh, and I was happy to see Niki and Tod for the first time since last summer too.
Pretty soon I was pooped and walked back to the Yard and my penthouse suite at Weld. Of course I kibitzed and compared notes with my roommates before going to bed -- just like old times!
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