2001

With thanks (and apologies) to Theodor Geisel and "The Cat in the Hat." I will be reading the original version to my kindergarten class (they're the culprits keeping me from a "real" Class Notes) and they may well take over the next column if I don't survive the first months of school with them! Happy bonfire to you all!

Here we are three years "out" (Or three "in" some will say). Can it be that our "5-year" Is just two years away?

In the spring of 2000 At Food Court, we boo-hooed. And we said, "How I wish We had something to do!"

Besides corporate recruiting ("Have a mug, a stress ball?") Info sessions, round twos Cover letters, and all.

So all we could do was to Sip! Sit! Blitz! Sit!

The cashier at the Hop Did not like it one bit.

And then Something went BUMP! How that bump made us jump!

We looked! At the envelope on the door mat! We looked! And we saw it! A job offer so fat! And it said to us, "Why do you sit there like that?"

"I know it is spring And the Green is so sunny. But work is good, too. You might even make money!"

So we did it, you see. We left the Big Green. We set out for spots far away, Sight unseen. Off to grad school, Peace Corps, Cubicles, teachings gigs (Nothing that couldn't be cured With a couple of swigs).

Some are married, engaged, With babies, or three. Some are single, untethered, With Andes to ski.

Now! Now! Have no fear. Have no fear, all the same. These tricks are not bad.

They're a part of the game. You will still have good fun, (Don't you fret) as you like, If the big picture you keep Somewhere just in sight.

Some are lawyers, op'ra singers, Mothers and dads, Mortgages in their clutches To pay off their sweet pads.

But we're just three years out (Not 10 and not 30), We've still plenty of time To get good and dirty. On this I reflect When it all feels too much, When sanity, it seems, Is outside of my clutch.

Now, when we're back in Hanover And we're asked one and all,

"Have you had any fun? Had you any at all?"

Will we know how to grin, or to scowl, What to say? Will we have a good feeling For what we've done these past days?

What will we share? Now what SHOULD we do? Well... What will YOU do When your old friend asks YOU?

43 Ivaloo St., #9, Somerville, MA02143; amiable@alum.dartmouth.org