Stanford - 15 Years Later

Considering how much my life has changed, it seems like it must be much more than 15 years since I went to school on "The Farm."  Yet, it was only my 15 year Stanford reunion I attended at the beginning of October.

Last reunion (the 10 year), Kevin and I went together while I was pregnant with Bridgette (there's a story about how I threw up on the plane).  This reunion, we brought Bridgette, Vivienne and my parents.  We needed babysitters.  Plus, I told my mom that since she and Dad had paid for my education they deserved to participate in the reunion perks.

A particular perk is Dinner on the Quad. Steak dinner is served in the moonlight, right in front of Memorial Church.  As my mom said, who came as my guest, the scene seems like it is out of a movie.

The entire Stanford campus has only gotten more gorgeous since I went to school there.  We got to explore the campus running from landmark to landmark in the children's race Saturday morning.  Bridgette was super excited about the racing aspect - lining up at the start, brimming with intensity.  The campus is huge, and Bridgette got a bit tuckered out, but I hope the landmarks made an impression that will stick with her.

During the weekend, I got to meet up with some of my closest friends.  Ralph, Erin, and Elizabeth were all in my freshmen dorm, and we chose to "draw" together, which means we lived in the same sophomore dorm too.  It was great to reconnect with them.  We've gone such different paths (internet start-up exec, retail store buyer, pharmaceutical economist).  Only Ralph is married with kids.  His son ran in the race too.

On Saturday, Kevin, my dad, and Bridgette went to the football game.  After the game Bridgette danced with the band!  It was a big Stanford upset victory over U of A.

I went to rehearsal during the game.  Yes, rehearsal!  My a capella group, Everyday People, held a big 25 Year Reunion concert.  The founders of the singing group were there, along with members from all the years of its existence.  It was such a neat opportunity (though more than a little intimidating) to sing with them again and be exposed to such talented musicians.  During the concert, I sang several songs with the group.  So, all weekend long I struggled to memorize my "bee bops, shee bops, and doo dahs"

In my college days, I only sang with them for 2/3rds of one year, since I left to study in Japan during the spring of my sophomore year.  The following year I did not try out again, because I knew I wanted to go to Washington D.C. (which I did) for the spring of my junior year.  Still, it was an awesome experience.  Anyone see the movie Pitch Perfect lately?  Yeah, it was a little like that.

On the morning that it was time to go, we drove one last time over to the Oval and the Quad.  We breathed in the beauty of it.  What a privilege it was to go there.  Hopefully we'll be back soon.