November 16, 2011

Just enjoyed a great couple of weeks with Wabun reunions hosted in The Big Apple by Phoebe Knowles and her family at the Roger Smith Hotel, and in Harvard, Massachusetts, hosted by Tim and Linda Foster and three generations of their family.

A combination of 50 + alums, friends, and folks interested in learning about Wabun convened at the Roger Smith.

Three generations of the Taylor family alums (John, Nik, Monica, and Jane, with children) joined us.  Originally from Texas, they are all now living in NYC.  Joe Kilbridge and his wife Barbara Clauss came down from Buffalo - Casey and Signe Forbes linked up with their NYC resident son, Alex (who also plays in a band in the city) and Casey's sister, Leslie, with alum son Tristram Worth, for a little family reunion - Edna and Harry Wright flew out from Columbus - Jim and Diane Rees slipped in from CT to join son, Kevin - Sarah Flotten flew out from Minnesota - Jess Hatheway Scriver came down from Vermont and her sister Katie trained up from DC - nearby alums: two of the three generations of Lindseths (Peter, Paul, and Nick), Isa Zinser, Will Nuckols, Hugo Mallinson and his fiance Kat O'Neill,  Holden Rasche, Pierce Hovey and his mom, Amy, and David Kast all came together for a great get-together - thanks, Phoebe!  A quick tally suggested 161 years of Wabun experience gathered in the room!

Gilding the reunion lily, Jason and Jess came in from Connecticut and Texas, with  spouses, Ali Thurber and Lukin Murphy, to join Marg and me in attending a Roger Smith evening performance by my sister's singing group Queen of Hearts.  The Queens wowed a sell-out crowd and extended an invitation to me to join in the offering of The Wabun Song.

 Such a joy!

After the New York City Reunion,  Marg and I returned to New Hampshire for a week of working on the launching of this year's Wabun Newsletter - should be on-line in time for the Christmas Holidays.  Then, last Sunday we headed down to Tim and Linda Foster's home in Harvard, MA for the annual reunion there.  A special treat awaited us as Putty McDowell (1937) joined the gathering to assure the representation of all eight decades of Wabun alumni/ae - 1930s - 2010s - shared experiences and anecdotes/comparisons of style/equipment/menus abounded.

Putty McDowell (1930s) and Bo Foster (1940s) review some memorabilia with me

It is a particular treat to note that Tim and Linda Foster, and sons, Sean, Marc, and Evan, represent the third of four generations of their family associated with the camp.  Tim's grandfather, Mac McLellan, was one of Wabun's founders - his son-in-law, Bo Foster is shown to the right.

Reconnections in Harvard included: in addition to Tim, Linda, Bo and Putty, numerous McLellan family members - Mac's daughter Mary Alice and daughter Julie (1970s) and husband Karl Nocka and their daughter, Heidi (Cayuga A - 2011), Scott Anderson from the 1970s - recent alums: Stewart Longsworth and Isabel Cochran (traveled down from Amherst and Smith Colleges), Marcy Shappy, Nate Levin and mom Carole, Hardin and Gail Coleman, Amanda Sundheimer and parents Jerry and Liz, Steve (1970s) and Mary Finnegan, Scott Blackwell, and others interested in learning about the opportunities we offer.

Marg and I recently joined Debbie and Bill Monroe (1940s), parents of John and Bill, in our local NH honoring of veterans at  a Veterans' Day celebration in Hopkinton - Bill and Debbie have gone over the top to welcome Marg and me to New Hampshire, and it was a treat to get together with them to honor Bill as a veteran.  Thanks, Bill.

Best to all - and Happy Thanksgiving!