FAMILY TIES
The Bonds of Memory
As I returned to Hanover for my 20th Reunion, I carried with me an image that was planted in 1965.-Even as an eight-year-old, I felt the magnitude of my father's Harvard 25th. "Classmate Pete Se6ger sang. My father reminisced about writing student shows with Alan Jay Lerner. And the memory: of President Kennedy like Letter's Camelot elevated the entire event into mythology. At one point the grown-ups watched JFK documentary. Afterward they emerged silent in sorrow, with.rings' of jars in their eyes. We understood. You never know what kidsswill pick up on.
Last June my wife, Karen, our 10 and 7-year-old daughters, Isabel and Olivia, and I journeyed from Knowille, Tennessee, to my 20th. "We're going to stay in the dorms?" asked Isabel. I answered in the affirmative. "Cool," she replied.
After a hearty Lou's breakfast, we climbed Moosilauke. I saw old friends and my family made new ones on the trail. Back in the Ravine Lodge, I took off my boots in the bunkroom where I'd stayed after my freshman trip. I told the girls how, aching like dogs after our "hard-core" trip, my group had laughed all night in that room and right out of The Book of College Cliches forged friendships for life. (At our Saturday reception, trip-mate Bill Dexter even reminded me of what we were laughing about—Martin Perkins' Wild Kingdom.)
On Saturday morning, Isabel and Olivia eschewed the kids' tent, so we plunked them down with their Goosebumps and Wishbone books in the back row of 105 Dartmouth while we enjoyed a lively and impressive symposium on government. It featured '78s Rob Portman, Congressman from Ohio. Undersecretary of the Department of Energy Dan Reicher, Ben & jerry's "Chief of Stuff Duane Peterson, and Paul Donovan 77. the chief of staff for the Department of Commerce.
"I liked that," said Isabel afterward. Stunned, we asked what she'd liked about it. "When that girl asked the question," she answered, referring to Interhational Herald Tribune editor Anhe Bagamery '78, who a) looks much younger than 40, and b) had challenged the idea voiced by a participant or two that most of the government's •problems stemmed from the horrible, negative, headline-seeking press corps.
I wonder if my daughters noticed how genuine, warm, and convivial these 200 old friends were throughout the weekend. I know Olivia enjoyed getting some special attention from Nick Lowery. who enveloped her with a long arm and addressed her by name like an NFL Santa Claus. We all enjoyed Nick's excellent job of emceeing at the reunion cabaret, and we sat awe-struck by the succession of unbelievable performances.
My own unforgettable moment of our 20th was the speeeh by Krista Oopik, 13- vear-old daughter of our classmate. Arvo Oopik, who died in a plane crash while helping Native Americans getmedical treatment. With unbelievable poise, Krista remembered her father, his work with Native Americans, and told how she was dedicating her life to upholding his values and living as he did.
Myidds have already told me they'll never forget the long hike up Moosilauke or Lou's hot chocolate with whipped cream. That may be true, but you never know what memories will take root and grow larger over time. More than anything. I hope my kids like me after my father's reunion—will look back and realize they were witnessing a rare sense of fellowship.
The Climbing Clarks
