Final Day, Part 2

Went down to Carrboro to see Erich's concert this afternoon. His band was playing in a benefit to raise money for an organization that helps poor children in Guatemala.

It was held in a small park in front of the Weaver Street Market (like a Whole Foods). There were lots of families (some with dogs) there. His band is amazing! Lots of really great Latin music, and it was a great afternoon to be outside. They played for about 45 minutes. Afterwards I went up to introduce myself to him and he introduced me to a couple of the other band players, then I helped him load up his truck and followed him home.

They live WAY out in the country, down a gravel road. It is very beautiful there - lots of tall trees - but very isolated. I met Marya, Ki and Lenia (not sure of spelling), and Zephyr the dog. We had a really great evening. Dinner was very good: chicken in some kind of cinnamon and mint sauce (which made the whole house smell wonderful), rice and zucchini, wine, and a homemade ginger cake for dessert.

We had lots of good conversation, and the kids are really great. Very well behaved and fun to talk to. Erich and Marya are very nice and very interesting to talk to as well. They certainly have had interesting lives.

The quilt that the Hershey bookclub made for Marya when they moved away is hanging up in their living room. It is really beautiful.

They all send their regards to Hershey.

Time for bed; home tomorrow.

A.

Final Day

The dinner last night was fantastic. There must have been over 5oo people there. It was held in the new (at least to me) b school student center, which is amazing. Our class got there early and reserved a big table just for the 20 or so of us. We were there fro 8 until nearly midnight, talking, drinking, and eating. We took a lot of pictures, exchanged e-mails, caught up on what's been going on for the last 20 years, and did a lot of reminiscing.

We're all talking about beginning to plan for the 25th and how to get an even bigger turnout.

It was also fun mingling with some of the other alums and other students (who were all invited as well). The students are so different from the way we are - much more serious, much smarter, older, tons of interesting work experience, etc. It's a very different place. One of them told me that their hunt for a summer internship (between their 2 years of b school) begins in the 4th week of the 1st semester!!! Yikes!

Today we had a farewell brunch, which was really great - lots of typical brunch food. The food the whole weekend was amazing. We all just sat around talking some more and said our goodbyes.

I intend to keep in touch with a lot of people. There is one very nice woman living near us in Chicago.

Almost everyone else is married, with several children. I told them all about Mitch and everyone was totally cool with that. I wonder if it would have been like that 20 years ago?

Anyway, I drove to my old apartment and walked around there. That brought back a lot of memories, but it hasn't changed a bit.

Now I'm in my hotel, going to make a few calls and relax. I'm going to hear Erich play this afternoon. He's on at 515, but I'll leave earlier and wander around Chapel Hill for a while. Then after I'll go to their house for dinner.

Hope all is well.

A.

Greetings from Durham

Last night's reception was really great. There were about 30 people from my class there and everyone pretty much remembered everyone else. We had a great time until around midnight, talking, drinking, and eating.

Today began with a trip to the new Nasher Art Museum in Durham - only a couple of years old. It is a fabulous building, with a great collection. The founder (Mr. Nasher) who lives in Dallas happened to be there for a board meeting. He was a very nice, polite, elderly southern gentleman.

Then we had a bar-b-q back at the school, which was great, and then in the afternoon went for a walking tour of the B-school campus and the undergrad campus, including the Duke Gardens. The weather is perfect, and the gardens were really beautiful. This place has really grown up - it's amazing what a lot of money can do! The lawns are perfectly manicured, everything is in great shape, even the street signs are pretty.

Then a bunch of us went to the Duke bookstore to buy some T-shirts, and hung out in the student union for a while. Now it's nap time until dinner.

It has been really great seeing everyone and catching up; it's like we are all just picking off where we left off 20 years ago, which is a very comfortable feeling. . It's a really great group of people and we're all planning to come back for our 25th year reunion.

Time for a rest.

Greetings to everyone.

Afternoon Siesta

Back in my hotel room for a siesta.

Spent a couple of hours walking around the undergrad campus. It is absolutely beautiful! And the weather was PERFECT - sunny, not a cloud in the sky ("Carolina Blue" as they call it), and warm. I visited the Chapel and did a lot of walking around. All the flowers were in bloom, lots of students around. Ate in one of the student cafeterias, which was fun.

Met with the director of the Health Sector Management program this afternoon. She was very nice (Harvard MBA). They are considering offering Daytime Alumni a "certificate in health care management." They already offer an MBA in that, but I'm not interested in another MBA. They have been considering offering an "abbreviated MBA" in health care management for a while, and she is getting several inquiries (such as mine) into this type of thing. It would be something for 2007-08. It sounds REALLY interesting - I may have hit on something here. Lots to read up on.

I head back to Fuqua around 5 for the opening reception and dinner.

Nap time......

What Happened to my Little Business School???

Have spent the last hour or so walking around the b-school. It has changed so much I can't believe it! The little school I went to has really grown up!

The school I knew is just a small core part of a huge campus now, and it is all so high tech. I'm in the PC lab now; there must be 100 large flat screen monitors available. There are computers and monitors all over the campus, in every room, in the libarary, etc. , flat screen TV's, etc. It's amazing.

The facilities are really incredible; I guess my donations have really made a difference!

I met with the alumni career guy this morning. He was a wealth of information and offered to send me a ton of materials, references sites, people's names, etc., in an e-mail so I wouldn't even have to take any notes. He also hooked me up with the director of the health care management program and she squeezed me in for a 145 appt this afternoon. They really treat alumni well!

I still have more of the Fuqua school to look around, and then I want to explore the main undergrad campus.

The weather is incredible and it is really beautiful here. I must have been asleep when I was here 20 years ago.

The student center (judy for the b-school) is new and is incredible - cafeteria, "coffee shop", tables and chairs and leather sofas everywhere, all in a huge glass enclosed atrium. Everyone is carrying a cell phone and laptop and the place is wireless.

I feel like I've walked into a different world.

Looking forward to the weekend.

A.

The Reunion Day is Finally Here!

Was up at 530 - guess I'm really excited about today. Looking forward to meeting the alumni career director and seeing what he has to say. Also really looking forward to seeing what the b-school looks like. Willl probably roam around the campus for a while before registration, cocktail hour and dinner tonight. May come back to the room for a nap.

Business School 20 Year Reunion

Here I am in a hotel room in Durham, NC.

Looking forward to the reunion weekend!

hi

hi (: