Reflections of My Classmates

Our Reflections in 2022

During 2022 we had a reunion of our classmates. It was in May and was the 60th anniversary of graduation!

What did my classmates think in 2022? First, 22 people shared their concerns about our democracy. All agreed that our democracy is in peril. One classmate had a different take because of living in Canada but ultimately everybody agreed!

Many were very concerned and said so! They gave many reasons, but all had something to say.

• One said she would recommend term limits on the Supreme Court.
• Another said the politicians’ responsibilities to their constituents, not just their career ambitions, should be in force.
• Voting rights would become standard across all states.

Other Non-Political Reflections

Other reflections on our times in 2022? (And I think most agree; these are the same concerns we’d feel now in 2023!)

Most of us wished we knew at 21 or 22 what we know now about ourselves and the world. Many of us feel grateful that we have had a fulfilling life. But a few wished for closer relationships in our marriages.

One woman said she had lived in Nigeria, Bolivia and Brazil. In Nigeria, she regretted her lack of African history. She came back from Nigeria and entered classes again.  She earned a PhD in African history. Then she changed to Afro-American history. Finally, she wrote her thesis based on the relationship between Brazil, Angola and Portugal before the end of the slave trade. More recently she had returned to her earlier career as a librarian.

Another alum left South Hadley in 1962 thinking she was on the verge of knowing everything. But that didn’t last long! She now feels she knows almost nothing! But she is happy with that.

One alum continues to be a sculptor. She said she is delighted to keep discovering that we are never too old to learn. Another said she is most proud of being resilient and willing to reinvent herself.

Recalling our Famous People

We were asked to recall our most famous person whom we had met. One classmate said she didn’t recall a separate meeting. But she did recall this relationship on the day of Kennedy’s funeral.

What I remember most was her being invited to an apartment across the street from St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington DC on November 25, 1963. She was on the 2nd floor and could see people going in and out. There she watched the procession. And she saw Presidents Eisenhower and Truman walking arm in arm afterward.

Nigeria Briefly

When I looked at my email, I saw this from Nigeria Health Watch. They would like my opinion on how I use the information I gain from the newsletter.

To be honest, I don’t use it very often. But I have used it sometimes when I’m confronting a question about the rights of women in labor. Or the malaria initiative, or universal health care. I am glad that I get it regularly and would like it to continue.