October 18, 2008

Hi Everyone,

Well -- we are relieved! All our fears about hanging around upper North Dakota in the third week of October just to make it to my 40-year Law School Class Reunion evaporated. Yes -- it seems cold and windy to us -- but NO SNOW! In fact, we find the weather refreshing.

We left Sean's farm yesterday morning (Friday) after digging up his yard with the wheels of our RV (see picture below). Turns out, all that rain made the ground wet and difficult for Jerry to get traction in the wheels to leave. (We needed Sean's help in getting the RV out.)

We then drove 85 miles from Fargo to Grand Forks. The Alerus Center in Grand Forks, where the reunion was scheduled, is hugh. (Neil Diamond will be there November 22.) The reunion was so much fun. It was interesting seeing classmates that, 40-43 years ago, I sat in classes with 5 days a week for three years. The personalities of each did not change -- but, obviously, other parts of them did. What we found most interesting and entertaining was that each person was invited up to the mike to summarize the last forty years. It was as if we were at a comedy show. Many laughs -- because at this age, what else can we do about the things that each of us did or that happened to us? And, it also gave us a better understanding on how differently each of us handled stepping out into the world after Law School. Some were quite adventurous -- trying various occupations and areas of the world to live. Others have stayed in the same house, doing the same job, in the same town -- from the date they left school until today. In fact, one person even calculated that he has driven the same street going to and from his work 56,000 times since graduation.

Unlike today, when 50% or more of all law school students in the United Stares are women, I was one of just two women in my class during my first two years, and the only woman in my class during my last year. (The other woman in the picture below was actually in the previous class, but ended up graduating with this class.)

Right now we are in an RV park in Jamestown, North Dakota, where we plan to stay for three days before going back to Bismarck (to get the stitches out of my right eye). It is 52 degrees outside.

Until next time, "life if not about things -- and things are not about life." (Quote from Mike Hucklebee)

Miss all of you.