How to begin? It was Hah-vahd weekend for Adam as MBAs crawled out of their holes from all over the world to descend upon Allston for reunion weekend. I tried putting on my nice face, but apparently it didn’t work very well, as I did get in a wee bit of trouble: Apparently Twittering through the section event was apparently not the way to make new friends. But since that was what I was up to anyway, here were a few of my observations:
# I’m paying $15 an hour for a kid-free night. That damn well be a midget over there.7:22 PM May 29th from web
# Adam keeps looking at me like I’m supposed to mingle. Sorry, babe. Mingling costs extra.7:36 PM May 29th
# Adam is trying to explain why the lecture “why smart people don’t change” was so brilliant. Let’s all pat our own backs here. Riiiiight.8:41 PM May 29th
# People are already talking about their second marriages. HBS knows how to breed them. 9:48 PM May 29th
# This thing is supposed to end in 8 minutes and I still haven’t gotten my freakin’ cake. MBA efficiency, my ass.9:52 PM May 29th
Anyway, it was highly suggested that I have an attitude readjustment for Saturday, and I did my best to comply. In my defense, Friday night’s activity was not set up well–too small a space, too short an open bar, too mediocre food, and too many people I didn’t remember (wait, does it count as not remembering if you’ve repressed the memories?). Luckily, I wasn’t the only one who behaved badly, but since I’m attempting to be nice here, I’ll skate over other peoples’ rudeness. I’m nice like that. I will give some folks credit though: After all these years, people finally got my name right. Jenny Brown. Jenny Medros is a figment of MBAs’ imaginations (yes, I’m giving them enough credit to assume they have imaginations–I told you, I’m being nice here).
Saturday’s day event was fine–the kids’ area was okay, although whoever thought that turkey, cheese, lettuce, and raspberry mayo on a sun-dried tomato wrap was a good lunch for kids, obviously never met my kids. The grown-up lunch’s mac & cheese and bread was much more kid satisfying. The kids did a fabulous job behaving, even through the section’s trip down memory lane (Doodles loved the slide show and now apparently thinks that business school is filled with guys dressed as women). They were amused to be sitting at the same desks that Daddy sat at, and bribing them with gum to keep quiet worked pretty well. The presentation brought up some sore memories (I still can’t believe Adam didn’t vote for me as a “better half”) but also some fun times and surprise, surprise, they even poked fun of me for this wee, little, harmless blog.
The gala on Saturday was actually quite nice. Because of the economy, the event was downsized so instead of a black-tie gala, it was a cocktail-attire gala. I’m still not completely sure what the distinction is there, but apparently to someone, there is one.
Walking in was a bit odd because the halls were lined with security guys. Seriously, we passed four of them before we even entered the event. We couldn’t figure out who was coming who warranted this. Turns out… it was us. Signs at the bar read, “No shots, no straight-up drinks, only one drink per guest at a time.”
Apparently, at last year’s reunion, the MBAs got loaded and there were actual brawls. A beer bottle over a head. A couple battling it out when he thought she was flirting too much. A bit of blow going on in the corner. Way to go class of ’03!! I think I might have had more fun had Adam started just a year earlier.
But the food was fabulous, the views were great, and I got to talk to almost everyone I wanted to talk to (Meg, if you read this, I searched for you! I was bummed I never found you). We had friends staying with us and that was fun. Kevin and Shannan were two of my HBS favorites, and Shannan was absolutely my partner in crime at the reunion and we had a–gasp!–good time.
Of course, there were a few revelations this weekend. A marriage ended here. Jobs changed there. And the biggest, most horrifying revelation of all: As I was telling Shannan how I love my new remodel, but I’m starting to take it for granted; as I mentioned that I just don’t do crumbs, that’s what a house cleaner is for; as I mentioned how nice it is being home with the kids and that I’ve been managing to have dinner on the table for the whole family at 6:30 every night, it dawned on me…. Of all the CWITs (corporate wives in training) of our HBS years, I am the winner of the Corporate Wife Extraordinaire award. What? Really? Moi?
Dah-ling. It’s quite an honor. I’ll tell you all about it. Let’s chat over martinis and manicures. Your Black Card or mine?
‘Til the 10 year in 2014! Ta ta!
