25th Reunion - DAY 3

After 36 hours in the States, I seriously felt the need for a real cup of coffee by the time I woke up on Saturday morning. The brown-colored water served at Annenberg yesterday was a poor excuse for coffee, and for some reason I never made it to a coffee house. As expected, I was up before all of my roommates. Alone, I made a bee-line for Starbucks. Unfortunately, what I recalled as good coffee was now just disappointing. Still, better than Harvard coffee, though. I walked around the Square, coffee in hand, and eventually headed for breakfast. Afterwards, many of my roommates were heading for the Memorial Service but I passed. The Service was to commemorate the dozens of classmates who were no longer with us. An important pause for thought, but I would do my reflecting on the yoga mat in my dorm room.

Later, I headed back to the Square to do a little shopping; I had to pick up the obligatory Harvard memorabilia for the kiddies at the Coop. I also hit the bookstore to buy a Studs Terkel text, one of several books that Charlotte will need to read (and write about) this summer in preparation for her 8th grade year at The Latin School, back in Chicago. But, more on that later.

At 11:45am, it was time to head to the steps of Widener Library for our class photo. The weather had been absolutely wonderful since I'd arrived. But during the photo session -- which lasted far longer than seemed necessary -- the sun was directly overhead and beating down on all of us, and it was HOT. Everyone milled around Tercentenary theater, or the "New Yard," for a while before beginning the migration across the Charles River for field day. Once again, I became separated from my friends/roommates and found myself walking alone. And, at the same time, I found my stomach rumbling. Had I not been alone, I may not have stopped, but the delicious scent coming from B.Goode's (a new burger joint) was too enticing. Thus far at this reunion, when I have actually been able to eat (ie. not talking), the food has been .... not so good, and not so hot. I couldn't resist the opportunity to sit down alone and chow down a good 'ole American burger and fries. It hit the spot.

Across the river, the "field day" lunch was served indoors in the steamy hockey rink. And immediately, I knew I'd made the right call by eating before I'd arrived. The hamburgers looked like hockey-pucks -- how appropriate. I was able to chat with many more classmates, and discovered some small world stories. One classmate and her husband dropped out of life on Wall Street and in Connecticut and spent a summer in Italy before moving to Santa Barbara and reinventing themselves. Another classmate -- a New Yorker -- is now living in Seattle; turns out she married a hedge fund of funds guy I know. Rich Appel, the funny MC from the talent show, is friends with my friends Cami and Howard in LA, and on and on it goes.

Eventually, I made it out of the steamy hockey rink and sat on the lawn with my roommate Rachel and her family. She and her husband Mike have turned out a couple of wonderful kids. Field day is also family day so everyone's kids were about. I also got to see Dora and Martha Wedner.

Lucky for me, I had a massage scheduled for this afternoon. Josh reminded me before I left Rome that our favorite massage therapist from Chicago is now living in Boston. I contacted him by email and arranged to meet him in a friend's room at the Charles Hotel. It was one of those "it hurts so good" experiences. I really needed it. My timing was perfect -- it rained during my massage and the sun came out again for my walk back to Weld.

Tonight was the 25th reunion Gala dinner and dance. All my roommates and I were in our penthouse suite at Weld trying on outfits, putting on make-up, and gossiping ahead of the big affair. But it was getting late. We decided to take the shuttle bus across the river this time and ended up getting a tour of Cambridge. Still, those in heals were spared the walk.

By now, the whole reunion affair was turning into an endurance contest. The Gala was fun for a while, but then fizzled out. The band was loud (as bands tend to be) making it difficult to talk. Already many had lost their voice. I stuck it out for a while, but then took the shuttle bus back to the Yard with Mary Jane. It was time for some sleep.