This past weekend was my 10 year college reunion. It’s hard to believe, especially considering I’ve only been alive for 32 years. Nearly a third of my life has been after my time at William & Mary?
To me, what’s even more astounding than the 10-year-after-graduation statistic is the 14-year-after-freshman-year statistic. Nearly half my life has been spent after my freshman year of college, but I still feel very close to the 55 people I lived with in 1992-1993 in Taliaferro Hall. And for me, this 10-year reunion was basically an excuse to get together with those folks I lived with 14 years ago. Here are some of us. From the left, it’s Elena, Jonelle (almost entirely obscured), Bridget, Camille, Kathy, and Barry.
As you might imagine, 14 years gives people a lot of time to procreate. There were 4 babies at the reunion. Josh, at 3 years old, is the elder statesman of the group. Age did not bring energy, though; he was tuckered out in front of Ewell hall.
Ginny’s son Tommy is the next oldest. He never seemed to tire.
Our very own Alex is the third oldest. In spite of two teeth, and the beginning of stranger anxiety, he did OK on this trip. (Except for the plane ride back to Seattle, I’m sad to say. We were the family with the screaming child that every business traveller dreads.)
Elena’s baby, Hanna, is the youngest. Here she is, with Anne Elise, Emily, Mike, and Annie.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a trip back to Williamsburg without the walks through Colonial Williamsburg. Saturday and Sunday, the weather was glorious. Here are two shots of Molly in front of the Governor’s Palace and the fall colors outside of Bruton Parish.
I wish I could write about this past weekend and pretend that everything was happy. But as time passes on, so do people, and sometimes tragically. Of the 55 people who lived with us in 1992-1993, one has died already. Robert Wone was murdered on August 3rd, 2006. He was 32 years old. He was one of the nicest men I’ve known, and for the rest of my days I will be humbled by the thought he may have done more good for the world in his 32 years than I will do in my lifetime; and honored by the thought that I knew him and lived with him. Rest in peace.