My favorite poet, William Butler Yeats, penned a poem I long ago committed to memory: When You Are Old. It inspires me to this day, and hopefully will reveal to you a purpose and reason for our 35th Reunion Weekend this summer. The poem suggests a comfort in old age. Its lines briefly trace the journey from youth to old age, and call to mind that we need to gather as many beautiful memories as we can during our short time on this planet. I hope this Reunion becomes just such a recollection for us all.

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.