The Blog

38 years – over 400 students – seen the Nutcracker 38 times. Watched hundreds of recitals, made multiple batches of brownies. Signed blue cards too many to count. Laughed much. Celebrated hundreds of parties. Made over thirty Halloween costumes. Memories to last a lifetime.

“I have a dream.” “Live the dream.” “Follow your dream.” Three quotes from different people. It was Friday May 18th, 2018 that Ron and I headed over to the Delbridge Family Center for the Arts for “After hours – A celebration of Walnut Hill Legends.” We mixed up the time and were there too early but while there we and met Eric Herbst ’09. I happened to have some freshly made scones so I invited him back to our apartment to have tea and scones – just like old times in New Cottage. It was during our conversations that I shared with him a dream that I had. In Spring of this year – 2019 – I got a call from Garrett Murphy Director of Alumni Giving and Engagement …….

Jeanie l., Katherine L., Hannah T., Wendy S,. Nancy P., Layla B., Szamo M.,Jordan B.,Fair S., Jayna L., Sandy M., and Alex. “There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction.” – Winston Churchill. During thirty eight years living at Walnut Hill we have seen much change – in the right direction for the school. We decide to make a big change in our lives and retire from WHS. Anne Bushenfeld, Math, and Steve Durning, English, also retire. Collectively we are called “The Legends.” Benny Ibarra ’89 sends a video message to be screened and Tereza Rodrigues speaks at the Reunion in May. I reconnect with Eric H, class of 2009 and speak of “My dream.” Events – Apple becomes first Trillion dollar company. First total eclipse since 1918. WHS celebrates 125 years as a school.

Most students are pictured above. Second year as dorm affiliates and we miss the students even if we are just across the way. Snowy days are not so good. Getting used to Reach! Nadine and Maria graduate after 3years in New Cottage “Delbridge” is opened and the Woodside Gallery is named. Maria is Dorm President. Events – Donald Trump becomes President. We welcome our fourth grandchild. After thirty years I retire from my full time job at the local hospital. We celebrate our 50th wedding Anniversary in Scotland. The UK voted to leave the EU-Brexit. The Patriots win their FIFTH Super bowl.

Pictured above are some of our students. Where do I begin! All dorms have three sets of dorm parents. We chose to step down after 35 years of being dorm head, move into a townhouse and become dorm affiliates. Margaret and Jason become dorm heads. Ruby and Vlad stay in New Cottage. WFMA move into a new building. Mr Grant leaves and Ms Liston takes his place. Ms Faulstich leaves. New academic schedules. REACH!!! North House becomes the first gender inclusive dorm. BB King and David Bowie die. This year we are given the Dorm Parent Award and were so sad that we could not receive it in person. New Cottage website becomes fully responsive.

Oct.26th 2019. A little transition before writing the final years. Halloween always was a fun time at WHS and we had much pleasure thinking of costumes and making them. Mrs Cassel was always creative and great fun. Mr Viva joined WHS with his new and innovative costumes. In 2016 I “hung up my costumes” and passed on the baton to our son Andrew, wife Melissa and children Callum and Ainsley who live right here in Natick. A new “Halloween with the Reids” begins. Here are just a few of our costumes over the years – enjoy!

Vegetables and yogurt replace 5 Guys takeouts and Moxie. Girls are back with Carolan returning as dorm president. Mr Grant joins Student Life. Some students switched dorms or became day students and others joined us.The Dorm makes gift boxes for underprivileged children. Five pages of World news in Yearbook. Joe Biden has his first selfie on Instagram and Mrs Reid has her first ever selfie with Sienna. Ground breaking for the new Delbridge Center was in May 2015.Ruby gets married and Vladimir joins her as dorm parent. Our third grandchild is born and we also become DORM grandparents when Maria arrives. The daughter of Benny I., 1989.

CHANGE !! My oh my! Boys are back again. This would actually be the last group of boys before we retired. Sheila leaves, after 5 years with New Cottage, for a nursing position at Tulane University Hospital. Our students were very sad and gave her a fond farewell. Ruby Woodside joins us. Happy to have Graham return as our Dorm president. Yearbook is in full color and has a three page section on world news. Boston Bombing, Syrian war and birth of Prince William to name a few. Mr Reid and I were given the Non Nobis Solum Award at the Alumi Weekend as we celebrated with the class of 1989.

Another year of change. Girls back in New Cottage and the only year that Westerley was a BOYS dorm. Ciara W., was our dorm president and her theme was cats. The yearbook page was New Cottage – the purrfect dorm. Cool cats and one cool guy.The yearbook was larger and thicker – in black and white and crisp and clean – good job Ester and Stephanie. Events – our youngest son gets married. The 23rd James Bond movie Skyfall is released. Facebook goes public and shares are $38. Sheila graduates from Northeastern Univ. with a degree in Nursing. The blizzard of 2013 with 26” of snow.