Considering how long it’s actually been since we graduated from Agnes Scott reminded me of what a social worker friend once told me when she was assigned to facilitate conversation among a group of elderly folks at a retirement home. The gist of what they said in their discussion was that despite their advanced ages and various infirmities, they still felt the same inside! As long as we can recall various times throughout our lives with pleasure and enjoy reminiscing with others who were with us (classmates), don’t you agree that we can also feel the same inside regardless of age?

Another brief story: When we were on campus for our 50th reunion in 2014, an alumna from the class of 1934 was introduced in the convocation and honored because she had recently turned 100. Since my mother had also graduated in 1934, I spoke to this woman as we were leaving Presser Hall and asked if she remembered my mother. She replied readily, “Of course I remember her!” Since Agnes Scott is a relatively small campus, I feel sure that many of us can remember lots of our classmates, including those who were not close friends. Here’s hoping that some of you who may not have attended a recent reunion will make an effort to come to our 60th in April.

Since I was not able to attend Reunion Boot Camp in late August, I do appreciate the fact that Betty Girardeau (our class president), Shirley Lee, and Sue TeStrake arranged to be there and took notes to share with me. When I met Shirley for lunch in the dining hall in late September, she showed me the Luchsinger Lounge in the Alston Campus Center afterwards. What an ideal location our three classmates selected for our dinner together on Saturday evening! Other locations for class meetings have been assigned, and detailed information can be found in this enclosed Alumnae Weekend Brochure.

As Betty mentioned in her class president’s letter, I would appreciate volunteers to help with details, especially if you could get to campus (or maybe Zoom?) before Alumnae Weekend.

Did you know that Jell-O will celebrate its 127th birthday next year, the same year that we will celebrate our 60th reunion? I know that’s a bit of odd trivia to share, but I’ll bet that I got your attention.

While it seems nearly impossible that it has been that long since we graduated from Agnes Scott, it is actually true. Alumnae Weekend 2024 is scheduled for April 19-20. Shirley Lee, our indomitable Fund Chair, Sue TeStrake, Class President Emeritus, and myself attended Reunion Boot Camp on August 26 and began the process of making plans for our reunion festivities. Lucy Molinaro is our Reunion Chair, and I am sure she would love to have some of you offer to help her out with some of the details. If you are interested, please get in touch with her either by email at lucythelibrarian@yahoo.com Lucy was enjoying family time the day of Boot Camp, so Shirley, Sue, and I did the best we could to make some of the initial plans, like finding a location for our class party that would be easily accessible for those of us who may be dealing with mobility issues and setting a time of 5:00 p.m. to gather for a sumptuous buffet dinner—early enough so we “old girls” can get home or back to our hotel before it is too late. Our goal for a party space was to make it as user friendly as possible, and the Luchsinger Lounge in the Alston Campus Center is just that, even equipped with lounge chairs for intimate opportunities to chat.

In November, Shirley will be sending you all her Fall Fund Appeal letter with details about our class gift goal. In the past your response has been outstanding, and I hope that we will again not only meet, but also exceed our goal. We are hoping to have some Zoom meetings where we can have the opportunity to “meet” some of the outstanding students who are currently on campus and/or time with a faculty or staff person. Shirley has agreed to head that up. If you have ideas for other Zoom opportunities for the class, please let me or Shirley know about them. The Class of ’63 held several such sessions with classmates who shared some of their special creative talents. I love that idea.

I would like to recruit several of you to help me, Sue, and Shirley to reach out to all class members via phone before next April to just check in and see how our classmates are doing. I did calls like this for the Alumnae Office during the height of the pandemic, and, while these calls were to alums I did not know, I found these calls to be so rewarding, both to me as the caller and to the one called. We have all “weathered” so much since our last reunion, that I want each of you to know that you are important and valued members of our class. If any of you are interested in helping with this outreach, please let me know via email at bettyg@redfamiliar.com.

I know that some of us no longer feel up to traveling too far from home, but do hope that as many of you that can will mark your calendars now and plan to attend Alumnae Weekend 2024, April 19-20, even if you can only come to our party. I hope to see you then.