1987

7048 South Cook Court Littleton, CO 80122

Let's see, where was I? Oh, yes. I was trying to fit in all of the stories I heard while I was on campus for Homecoming. This news is beginning to age a bit, but like a fine wine, that can only be an improvement . . . uh, right. Anyway, down to business.

In the realm of graduate school experiences, we have a unique case in Jim Gakis. Jim is pursuing a master's degree (we all seem to be "pursuing" something, don't we?) in accounting studies at Northeastern in Boston. His program consists of two years of study condensed into 18 months. If that isn't scary enough, Jim started classes the week before Commencement last June!

While Jim was cramming for his first set of finals, Martha Ehrmann, Eric Weidman, and Tom Fyda were starting out at Duke University's medical school. Martha said that she had to get up early for classes for the first time since her language drill days.

I caught a glimpse of Ken Hedley, PaalGisholt, and George Bingham around the dying embers of the bonfire. The three are living with Mark Fisk and John Street in New York. This sounded like a pretty crowded arrangement, but Ken explained that the five of them had actually seen each other in the apartment all of twice.

A few of our classmates have turned the tables since their departure from Dartmouth and have become teachers. Whether they are motivated by the intangible reward of enhancing a child's view of the world or by sinister revenge, these '87s are shaping the minds of today's youth (shiver):

Elise Niiler is a teaching fellow in Russian at Andover, and Beth O'Connor teaches French and German in North Carolina. Ellen O'Neil earned her teacher's certificate at Dartmouth in the fall after assisting at Exeter during the summer. In Middleton, Conn., Debby Rowe teaches math and history to sixth and seventh graders. Do you remember what you were like at that age? I for one pity her. However, Debby happily rediscovered the joy of snow days when schools close. Said she: "The kids aren't the only ones celebrating!"

Di Doran works at a residential center for troubled teenagers near her home in Stoneham, Mass. In addition to her daily counseling duties, Di spends some nights at the center to help care for the live-in patients.

Sarah Bayard and Peter Southam are both teaching in New Jersey. Sarah lectures on biology and chemistry at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, and Pete teaches science to fourth graders at Princeton Day School (don't be too tough on them, Pete; save organic chemistry for fifth grade). The plot thickens, though. Sarah and Pete are engaged to be married (what else does one get engaged to do?) in June.

Abdhish Bhavsar started classes at the Wayne State School of Medicine in Detroit after a summer in Nantucket. He describes the highlight of his summer as the night he and some friends were stranded on Surfside Beach, after hours of playing music had killed their car's battery. The local police came to the rescue with a ride at 4:00 a.m.

Don't forget Green Key Weekend, which is May 6-8 this year. It should be a great opportunity for us to catch up with each other, and, call me a dreamer, the weather might even be nice.