Hurricane Suni

 When a classmate has a school named after her, you go. Even if it’s 3000 miles away. 

Initially, I was hesitant. Just bought my first post-divorce house, getting back on my feet, saving for Zoe’s college, and trying to catch my breath. 

And then I realized I had to make the trip. My one and only college reunion two years ago was an amazing and profound experience; this trip would be another, with 50 classmates attending as well. 

So I headed to the airport...United just established the first redeye from Redmond Oregon...connecting thru Chicago is much faster than Portland or Seattle! A couple of melatonin later, and I sleep for three of the four hours on the way to O’Hare.  On my flight….yet another reminder that my town of Bend has a worldly distinction that no other city can claim...

Boots on the ground in Boston by 0930….just in time for a another quick reunion! High School friend Annette lives in London but just happened to be in Boston, too; I found out the day before I arrived, so we met for coffee and some great reminiscing...in 1998, I lived across the street from her older brother. 

Just like my 30th reunion in 2017, I rented a vacation home and hoped I could fill it. Never fear; 5 others jumped on board quickly, so let the games begin! Chestnut Hill, subway nearby, 15 minutes to Back Bay, and 10 miles to the school dedication. By 8pm, everyone arrived, and the drinks started flowing. 

Roni and I hit up the local Wegman’s for supplies...not to mention some exquisite seafood at Seasons52 (and the drinks were good, too)

The South Huntington Frat House, with Tish, Tracy, Ron, Bonnie, Roni….there was no ‘off’ switch all weekend!

RJ, the most decorated runner in Navy history, made a ridiculous third place in the 1996 Olympic Trials 5000 meter final. And he won the 1993 Fifth Avenue Mile in NYC... He and I always have lots to talk about.  Friday morning, and Show Time….our classmate and NASA astronaut Sunita (Sunny) Williams, with 322 days upstairs and 50 hours of spacewalks, now has an elementary school in her hometown of Needham, Massachusetts.

On the shuttle bus from DeFazio Park to the school. 

Foodie that she is, Suni did her best in space to keep up the class tradition of craziness while working hard….on one of her flights, she brought her favorite childhood snack...Marshmallow Fluff!  So one of my pre-ceremony errands was to find a jar and put it in a gift bag with a short note of congratulations. As we walked up to the school, I saw her out front with the media folks, so we barged right in and smothered her. 

RJ calls this the Red Carpet Emmy shot

Suni's other foodie episode was to request some wasabi paste for jacking up the space food a bit. Unfortunately, the paste turned into a geyser when she opened it at 250 miles of altitude! Made for a big, spicy mess. 

When she was on her way back to earth in June 2007, I was privileged to see both the Shuttle and the International Space Station flying over Central Oregon at dusk...I had just relocated that spring. Outside the Sunriver Observatory at dusk, seeing those two pinpoints of light and knowing my classmate was up there. Big lump in my throat that evening.  Beautiful and vibrant school.

Tremendous, touching ceremony. 

Afterward, the masses descended upon a local restaurant. 

Because we burned the midnight oil the night before, most of us we pretty bushed by mid-afternoon, so we beat feet back to the Frat House for a nap. Bonnie set a land speed record for changing into her PJs. 

Then it was dinner at Pagliuca’s in the North End. 

Dessert at Mike’s Pastry….felt like a Seinfeld Soup Nazi episode! And omg, the cannolis…

Saturday morning, and Back Bay walkabout...here’s the Marathon finishing line. 

Max Brenner on Boylston, and a stoopid good Italian Thick; that’s dark chocolate cubes melted in fresh cream.

Back to the house to corral the troops, then off to the Union Square Oyster House for some chowdah.

A Sunday morning 0600 flight means a 0300 wake-up. Ugh. At least there was no traffic. I gave the United agent my still-good subway passes, and she gave me a great seat and free breakfast.  Grabbing my stuff post-TSA, and who appears right behind me? 

Roni...and none other than Navy’s favorite astronaut!

Suni celebrated her school dedication by going camping with her sister, and was still shaking the cobwebs out of her eyes. I searched for the airport manager to suggest he rename the airport after her, but I couldn’t find the guy. Thinking a letter-writing campaign is in order: Boston Suni sounds a lot better than Boston Logan. I’m just sayin’...

Nice thing about a 6am transcon flight is that I’ll be back in Oregon a little bit after noon. 

So glad I went east. Honor a classmate, reconnect with others...but no lobster rolls. 

Hmmmm. 

I still call it a win.