we are still at war. As expressed in the recent WTAP interviews of our family friends, war affects us, whether we are aware of the efforts by our servicemen and -women far away. Chris expressed that he has felt that his efforts have made an impact when he recalls the people, and particularly the children, in Iraq.
Labels: friends, Parkersburg, Peace, TV
posted by Grace @ 3/22/2008 10:49:00 AM
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Dad's home tonight.
Mom had a great time at her friend, Terri's, home. She also went to a beach party and visited Ohio Amish country and the Greenbrier, which has undergone an interior decoration change.
We had a grand time last night eating the sweet corn and cheese that she brought. The cookies will have to wait for when Dad arrives...
Labels: dining, family, friends, Parkersburg
posted by Grace @ 7/24/2007 11:45:00 AM
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I went to my Wellesley reunion yesterday. Julie, Chloe, and I took off from Cambridge on a foggy day, which turned into a rainy day. We visited the Science Center and ran into David and Nancy. We visited the summer research labs and I saw my Grace-sized painting, too.
Julie, Chloe, and I went to Slater House to say hi to Sylvia, and I ran into the Asian-American alumnae crowd. I later had lunch with Stephanie H. and her family (with whom I played "Where in the world is [Carmen San Diego/]Grace?" for the rest of the afternoon). Maria and I formed the Pilipina-American alumnae crowd for our class. We all went on a tour of the Lulu Wang center (the upcoming Gates building at Carnegie Mellon University is to be designed by the same spouse team, or so I'm told). The new student center uses the same concept of: housing large spaces to congregate and small spaces to gather and peer from above at the larger gathering places. Then I went to the reunion store, where I said hello to Sarajane, our former student class president. Judy shared her mango sorbet with me, and I headed to Claflin to change for Mass.
I lectored at the anticipated Mass for Corpus Christi and thanked Meri Smith and the priest, Fr. Eugene LaPlante (Babson chaplain) for allowing me to participate. They are remodeling Houghton Memorial Chapel starting this coming school year, and this was the last Catholic Mass in the Chapel until Reunion 2008. We sang
Gather Us In
Gift of Finest Wheat
I am the Bread of Life, and
How Can I Keep from Singing
with Meri accompanying us on the piano.
I met up with Cean and Caitlin outside the Chapel for drinks and dinner in Claflin. We spent a bit of time chatting with Maria K.; listened to Dawn's wailing jazz vocals and piano accompaniment; and Kary, Nikki, Rubina, and her husband joined us for the lobster and clam bake.
Cean and I took a walk down memory lane at her home with our yearbook and reunion book yesterday after chatting with her family.
~~~
Today, after a breakfast of noodles and fruit prepared by Pat and after meeting Amelia, Cean and I marched in the parade (after organizing photos of us in the Pomeroy 1st-year contingent). We met up with Susan O. and danced to "In the Mood" near the band as we waved at the other reuniting classes. I looked for Joan from the Pittsburgh alumnae club, but failed to spot her.
We went to Cean's home to freshen up and to pick up her family for the box lunch in Tower Courtyard, by the lake. I ran into Dawn and we had a photo.
We then walked to Pom to check out our old rooms ("I'm the wife of Bath,") and the bell desk, and the living room. I took the train back to Boston, and the T to Cambridge for dinner with Julie and Chloe.
~~~
Reunion Observations___
I've never been to a class reunion until this weekend. I'm certainly glad that I went this weekend, as so many vibrant, spirited classmates also attended...I'm sure there were a few sticks-in-the-mud, but I didn't meet them. I was struck by after 20 years out of college I am at peace with myself and with the choices I have made in my life. No regrets.
About my classmates, everyone had the same personalities as 20 years ago, except some of us have magnified our personalities many times over.
I found that I have a memory for detail about my classmates and my experiences at Wellesley:
I quoted my first greeting at Pomeroy (by Cean's "big sis," Donna);
greeted another classmate with the details of what she did right after graduation; and laughed when one classmate noted how 20 years had caused a noticeable "spread" (not in demographic trends, either).
I am so honored to have so much life and lifeforce in common with all these women, as well as to have shared my Wellesley experience with them.
All of us from our class were enthralled by the walking and driving classes from earlier reuniting years. A class from the 1970's chanted "No More War," joined by the rest of us; most of us raised our hands in peace signs. One older class had the classmates brandishing--not using--walking sticks.
Labels: Boston, Church, friends, ice cream, lector, library, Marietta, Mass, Parkersburg, Philippines, philosophical, read, thankfulness, Wellesley
posted by Grace @ 6/10/2007 06:47:00 PM
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This Friday my friend/coworker and I went out for a fun meal at Station Square. We had fun after dinner, window shopping and then seeking out the locale of the dancing water fountain. Half the fun was taking the light rail and busses to Station Square.
~~~
Saturday brought a trip with Mom and Dad to our old hometown in Ohio, where we visited with a family friend, Uncle Nani, and his family at the hospital. He has been in a coma for 4 months now and he has been in my prayers every night. We prayed with his family and spoke to him while he was awake. He blinked his eyes in seeming comprehension when we spoke, and made a facial movement when I announced, "He can understand what we're saying, intindihan, huh, Uncle Nani?" It was good to see that he was getting excellent care now.
I also tracked down and had a chance to visit with my former classmate, Kelli, and we caught up with news of each others' families and news of people with whom we grew up. It was nice to see her, and to hear that she was doing well in her professional life and in her personal life, too. "Phenomenal," was the word one of the nurses used to describe her work. "Yes," I agreed, "She's been a great person since we were very young. We grew up together."
We went to dine at my Mom's dear friend Terri's home. We had homemade lowfat chicken casserole, green mixed salad, green beans, and a cadre of homemade desserts, including the great lemony pound cake. She toured us about her home, sharing her insights on being the mom of a Marine in hospital and owner of a wonderful menagerie of pets. Her life and her son, Chris's, has changed a lot since his return from Iraq. Chris has been in my prayers every night. We reminisced with her the times we have spent with her, and Mom, Dad, and I watched Shrek (for the first time) with her, too.
~~
Today, Sunday, meant Mass at St. Margaret Mary Church, and brunch with Terri at Cracker Barrel, with delicious fruit pancakes. The trip home was uneventful (save some photo-taking outside the windows of the misty mountain's foothills), and I met up with Charles and Susan soon after at the Carnegie Museum of Art for the last weekend of the Louis Comfort Tiffany exhibit. We enjoyed the exhibit and the adjoining PAA exhibit before getting some Pan-Asian food with homemade noodles. Mmm--what a great way to end a day out on Sunday.
Labels: friends, Marietta, Parkersburg
posted by Grace @ 1/14/2007 06:47:00 PM
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Days in the life of me.
