In early June, I went back to New Haven, to my alma mater, Albertus Magnus College, for our class 50th year reunion. Albertus was a liberal arts college for women only when I attended. Now it is co-ed and expanded in other directions as well. I had not been back, nor in touch with more than one former classmate for years. I had never gone to a reunion.
I was enticed to attend by an old friend who asked me specifically to come, the reason being that, though I had been in the class of 1960 for my first three years at Albertus, I took my senior year off, went to teach for nine months in Rovaniemi, Finland, then travelled in Europe for two months. So I ended up graduating in 1961. I never felt I was part of that class, so was delighted when Lynn Farrell invited me. My old roommate, Anne Shaugnessy, agreed to attend as well, and another old friend, Genevieve Hine, would also be there. As it turned out, many old friends and acquaintances were there and I had more than a grand time.
But more than that, I regained memories of a whole part of my life that had virtually evaporated. Having left Connecticut right after graduating from Albertus, and then having all of my family also leave in the next few years, I lost contact with almost everyone as I settled into a whole new life. Others hold us in their memories; they know us as we once were. Without them to remind me of that person I had been, she had just disappeared.
It was both moving and entertaining to recover both that self and my friendships and acquaintances from that time. We all laughed a great deal and though all of us can easily be called old women now, not a one of us showed any signs of debility. White hair, wrinkles, sagging body parts, yes, of course, but within hours, we all saw each other as the young women we had been and still were within. It was like jumping into a very deep and clear pond, refreshing and cleansing.
Prior to the reunion, I visited with friends in St. Paul since my plane was connecting there. That was also a warm and loving time. I came back to Truchas feeling like a cloud soaring high in a very blue sky. I am so grateful for all the people in my life.
Original Paintings and Giclee Prints by Artist Barbara McCauley 