As I was out walking yesterday, a flock of birds flew overhead, low and swift. In the calm of dusk, their wingbeats sounded like wind. A stab of awe reminded me of one of our reunion program themes: “Keeping Nature in Our Lives.”
This is an invitation to participate in a discussion on the topic at a designated table at lunch in the Language and Dining Center at noon on Saturday, June 18. It’s an opportunity to rekindle a connection with nature. Or contemplate what form(s) it might take in coming years. Or to find out what all the fuss is about.
You are also invited to write a reflection to share with your classmates—an observation of nature that was meaningful for you, a description of the significance for you of the natural world, your philosophy regarding nature, and/or your plans for keeping it in your life (or not!); or (e) anything else on the general topic. No judgment, no comparisons, just express yourself!
Need inspiration? Consider reading some nature essays. Three possibilities are Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac and Sketches Here and There (1949), Barbara Kingsolver’s High Tide in Tucson (1995), and Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Wonders (2020). Please limit your essay to 750 words and submit it on the “Keeping Nature in Our Lives” webpage on the 50th Reunion website. Post your submission by a week in advance at the latest (Friday, June 10, 2022). But — whether you write something or merely enjoy what others have written — we hope to see you and hear from you at lunch!