Seven gorgeous women enjoy the New Hampshire sunshine.
Left to right: Carol Sweeney Benson, Dee Deferranti Abrahamse, Barbara Freeman Douglass, Judy Marshall Kennedy, Diana Diggin, Sue Wheatley Carr, and Marian Strong Moore. You’re not getting older; you’re just getting better!
Classmates- Debbie Holden Franz saw Carol in Come Back Little Sheba at
Quarryworks this summer while visiting her son in Essex, VT. Jean Austen also
visited Carol and they went to King Arthur Flour in Norwich, VT but missed Diana Diggin. No surprise, her co-workers sang her praises. Carol also said that
Chris Hollister Hila had reconnected with an old friend and was enjoying his
company. Carol had a good season at her local theater and is really looking
forward to next summer when she plays the evil Moriarity in Baker Street and
will reprise her Trip to Bountiful.
Reunion- We were lucky to have the two reunion chairs, Sue and Marian,with us.
They asked us to imagine a blank slate and then say what we really want at
reunion. Spending time with each other, classes and tours/discussions of new
programs, buildings were most important. There was a lot of discussion about
ways to cut costs and to be sure everyone can come. One saving could be
costumes, with us bringing more as we did with the shoes at the 50th. Another was to simplify meals, which may not be possible since offerings are pretty much
controlled by the college commissary. We also discussed whether the booklet is
needed or could be electronic instead of printed. The consensus was that it was
important. Another suggestion was that we all read the same book before reunion, perhaps with an alumnae connection.
Which is a segue to books: some that were recommended were Gone Girl, Orphan, All the Light You Cannot See, and Hope Against Hope. Marion’s book group is reading the latter, written by Sara Carr (note last name) and describing success stories of new Orleans schools. Students at Tulane will have this book as a campus wide read.
Dottie Smith Mann visited Judy earlier this summer and posed an interesting
question: “If you were Obama, what one thing would you try to do?” Great topic,
with discussion about immigration, gun control, taming special interests, and a
fascinating political maneuver suggested by Maureen Dowd that Obama either resign or accept impeachment after initiating executive action on the programs he cares the most about and allow Joe Biden, the ultimate political maven,to finish the term while Hillary campaigns for 2016.
Other thoughtful questions were how to contribute in retirement? “How can I
make a difference?” “What would you like to do as your senior years get more
senior?” “What’s meaningful to you that surprises you?” “What are things I
dreaded but now welcome and love?”
In answer to the last, some suggested public speaking, finding our voice,
improving listening. For making a difference, Marion explained her church’s
“Pay It Forward” where an individual is given $50 and then reports how that made a difference. Carol has her own “Abigail’s sister”, based on her role as a
homeless woman in Open Me Last. She puts a $5 bill in envelopes, brings them to the food pantry, and tells them to distribute as they see fit. One recipient
said, Wow, do you know how many bananas I can get now?
I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon, getting energized by this
group of wonderful, active, caring women. How lucky we are.
Barbara Freeman Douglass (I apologize that I can’t italicize or underline. Aargh)
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