The reunion

Getting around belatedly to say...

My college reunion was wonderful. It really was, hands down, about the best reunion I've ever attended, for either high school or college. They changed it up and instead of having the alumni coming to campus while the students were there, we arrived the week after graduation. And we had all the classes there (we attend reunions in five year increments), rather than having the classes meeting in various locations all over the Twin Cities. That was fun, too: I saw people I know in other classes: a coworker in the 15th year class, and several members of my church in the 50th reunion class. Without the students around, it didn't feel as if we were imposing on them. And the college could give us their full attention.

And boy, did they ever pamper us (yes, I know it was because they were hoping we'd write them big checks. But still, it was nice). The food was AMAZING! I've read that St. Olaf has won several surveys placing their student menu as being the best in the nation, and boy, I believe it. And the food service has a strong commitment to local, cruelty-free and sustainable practices. I went to a lecture about it, and it was fascinating: there is a student-run farm, so the college produces some of the food is itself, and everything is composted ("although we've learned to screen the compost," they told us at the lecture about food practices, "so we don't have ham bones sticking out of the flower beds anymore.")

I went on a tour to explain the new buildings that have been built in the next fifteen years. Amazing, amazing stuff, all carefully planned to be energy efficient and carbon neutral. And drop-dead gorgeous. It really is one of the prettiest campuses in the nation.

I attended several classes that the professors offered to the alumni. One was on the Arab Spring, one was on this year's docket of cases before the U.S. Supreme Court (the man sitting next to me was there for his seventieth reunion: he was one of only four people who managed to make it back from his class), and one was on reconciliation and forgiveness. All extremely interesting, and peppered by lively questions from the listeners.

St. Olaf excels at church music in particular. The college's beloved organist/director of the Cantorei Choir was retiring this year (he actually started at the college the year after I left, so I had never met him). There was a church service/reunion choir concert in honor of his retirement, and the music was stunning. I attended the Friday chapel service and the Sunday morning service, too. I do love the strong Lutheran church presence at St. Olaf.

I had wonderful talks with my classmates, and some of the most fun conversations were with people who weren't even particularly close friends when we were going to school together.

Only two glitches: there was a gathering downtown on Friday and Saturday nights in the evening. I skipped Friday night and was only there for a half hour on Saturday night. The band was taking a break from their set, and they resumed after I took the bus back to campus. It wasn't until the next morning that I realized exactly who was playing: Storyhill. (John Hermanson is an alum.)

I could have heard Storyhill live! And I missed it! Argh!

The other glitch was that I left my sandals in my room when I left.

But aside from these sadnesses, it was a terrific weekend. I felt brimming with happiness the entire time.