Musings and Mishaps

Author: Lindsey Whitton

In the Middlebury Magazine office, where I work as an intern, we read letters from hundreds of former Middlebury students, now dispersed across the globe. Sometimes these disembodied voices seem light years away the Middlebury students of today. Yesterday, one entry made me pause: "Since 1991, when Bob turned 75, he has run in over 250 races." Bob Matteson, '38, is a 400-meter sprint world record holder in his age group. He is older than most of our grandparents! Mr. Matteson attended Middlebury during the Great Depression, and he is still running. He is one of many who still communicate, without fanfare, in the small type in the back of our college magazine.
Marion Janes McIntosh, age 102, writes to the magazine staff about her friend Amy Hunt Meek, age 100: "During our four years at Middlebury, we sat side by side when the College assembled for the daily religious service. It is a happy memory for us."
Frank Punderson '55 writes, "I surprised myself by entering a 50K ski marathon... I took six [hours]... but I skied a 65K marathon in Murmansk, Russia (in) six hours 19 years ago, so age takes its toll."
Other ancient alumni share their new e-mail addresses and boast about signed copies of Middlebury books discovered online on E-bay. They describe their travels, often to visit college friends. Retired alumni participate in Elderhostel backpacking and biking trips all over the world. Groups of Middlebury friends even move to the same retirement communities - 19 residents of Wake Robin in Shelburne, Vt. look forward to yearly visits from President John McCardell and his wife Bonnie.
Sometimes their words are sad: illnesses, deaths and losses. But usually such news, a reality we all will face, is accompanied by profound memories of friendships, achievements, and a genuine connection to their college. As Mrs. J.D. Holms wrote for the upcoming spring issue: "Greetings from the nine members of the Class of 1928, as we observe our 75th Reunion. We cannot be on campus, but we do want you to know who and where we are, so we will use our column to give you that information and add comments about our college days, in the very different years of 1924-28."
When we become Middlebury graduates, class notes will become a focal point for us. Let's not forget as we live our four short years here, that we are part of a long line of students who once lived, learned and left their mark on this place. We are all connected. When you read class notes from long ago, you honor their stories. Someday, if we are lucky, others may read about us.