The first document saved in my 50th Reunion folder is dated June 4, 2019. It’s a blank form I used for visualizing class t-shirts we never made.
The Milestone Reunion planning started well before that. After many surprises, stops, false starts, and reboots, this note will become the last record in the file. Now, finally, it’s time to fill in that three-year blank.
Two weeks ago as an accommodating spouse Class of ‘72, I received a Milestone Reunion booster shot to prepare me for our August gathering. Even as an odd man out, I found intimate conversations, quiet walks, and simple fun, while escaping overdoses of liquor, nostalgia, karaoke contests, and speeches.
Instead of leaving Northfield with a sense of dread at facing one more Carleton Experience so soon, I’m looking forward to seeing my classmates, class of ’70 friends, and the final fruition of all the work my cohorts on the committees have poured in over the years.
Maybe I’ll bring that blank t-shirt and ask you all to sign it.
Editor’s Note: In a late-breaking gesture, some classmates commissioned a t-shirt to fill in the blank. This one will be available at Reunion for a suggested free-will donation of $15, with any proceeds benefitting Carleton students.
—Charlie Quimby