February 2022
Dear Classmates,
Pam and I hope everyone is staying healthy and warm this winter. It’s -14 here in Clear Lake, Minn. this morning as I write this letter, and I’m looking forward to a warmer getaway soon. Meanwhile, I’ve been treasuring the wonderful time I had at our reunion, reconnecting with many of you, and savoring the beauty of Decorah. We know for many it was difficult to decide whether to attend or skip the reunion this time, and we completely understand, so we were really happy to see those of you that were able to come! We look forward to a day when it will be easier for all of us to gather safely.
A short recap of our reunion weekend for those who were not able to be there:
● Many of us gathered under outdoor umbrellas on Friday night at Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. where we challenged ourselves to remember each others’ names without name tags and sampled some great brews. Our classmate and welcoming host for the evening was the brewery’s owner and classmate, Pete Espinosa.
● Saturday, about two dozen people gathered out at the Decorah Fish Hatchery to bike the Trout Run Trail. The weather was sunny and ideal for riding. Others toured the campus, poked around the variety of shops and restaurants in Decorah, and spent time catching up with old friends. Saturday found many of us out at Dunning’s Spring, too.
● A highlight of the weekend for Pam and I was standing outside and welcoming classmates as they arrived at De Novo Barn for the reunion. It was so wonderful to recognize faces, make connections, hear about the different paths that each of our lives have taken, and share how our time at Luther has influenced us through the years. I’m pretty sure I had a smile on my face for the entire evening. De Novo Barn was a spectacular venue and the weather could not have been better. Many of us spent a large part of the evening outside.
● Some of us attended Sunday morning worship at the Center for Faith and Life, where the fabulous pipe organ and Luther musicians seemed like a small slice of heaven to me. Pam and I marveled at how wonderful the choirs sounded even through masks. A highlight for Pam was when the organist played the Charles Marie Widor Toccata in C from Organ Symphony No. 5 at the end of service, a favorite that was also played at her wedding. It was played as the postlude, but no one left until it was done because it was so incredible!
● We heard about a special gathering of those who had lived together at Luther House that took place over the weekend also.
We had so much fun seeing everyone, would there be interest if we tried to plan a couple of smaller events where we could gather as a class before 2026? Something in Minneapolis? In Decorah? In a warmer climate in the winter? Would anyone be willing to host? Can anyone suggest a location or venue? Please send your thoughts and ideas to me or Pam.
Your Class Agents,
