FAVORITE MEMORIES OF WILLIAMS

Sitting bewildered in Bob Gaudino’s living room, trying to appreciate and make sense of structures in our lives. Preparing Art History slide presentations for Faison and Stoddard while they ragged on each other. Opting out of the meal plan, cooking in women’s houses. Awakening to global climate change from Bill Moomaw. Setting an ice ax arrest while roped to Bill Bevis on Mount Adams. Dr. Little turning down my independent study project to read the Bible. Dining, music, swimming with Clay Hunt under the Hopper’s shadow. My honors defense with Dr. Samuels.

CURRENT INTERESTS, PASSIONS, AND ORGANIZATIONS

I wake to each day walking a dog, chanting as I go, watering eleven chickens and gathering eggs, growing soil that produces beauty and food, hauling firewood, marveling at the world as acts of prayer. Living in a rural Maine community gives me opportunities to connect with diverse folks with conflicting views. I support struggles for justice and choices for relief of suffering through Episcopal Church, ACLU, Four Directions Development (supporting Native American tribes in Maine), local and federal representatives, HBCU, and MOFGA. I am thankful for courageous efforts of those who inspire me.

LIFE SINCE GRADUATION

Twenty-five years ago I was starting a new chapter, as I shared in our 25th reunion book. I came to our reunion appreciating that I had faced abrupt changes before. Being with the classmates who gathered, remembering afresh those who were not able to come, retracing walks, re-entering buildings, breathing in smells of place, all of these filled me with a deeper sense of joy and confidence than I had expected. I have remembered this often with gratitude. This time, our 50th, this time of Covid, this time when words fly as arrows, I look forward to being with classmates who can come, while feeling profound sadness that many cannot, and hoping to become more aware of where I and we come from than I am today.