Bond Perry

What a very long time it has been since I was at Earlham and what a lifetime of experiences and discoveries have filled the intervening years. A few highlights: After graduation I fulfilled my alternative service working in a mental hospital in Providence, RI and worked for the Trinity Square Repertory Company in its formative years. I then went to Selma Alabama and spent the next year working for SCLC as a community organizer. I went back to school (BU School of Social Work) and worked as a professional social worker until my retirement 5 years ago. My particular areas of interest and involvement were: Families living in Poverty, Child Protective Services, Advocacy for individuals with significant mental and physical handicaps, and the Treatment of men who commit sexual offences. My professional career was both challenging and rewarding, and I can truthfully say, I loved almost every minute of it. I am now retired and enjoying this phase of life.

I have not remained connected to Earlham or to other “Earlhamites”; I did stop by the campus several years ago when I was moving cross country from New Hampshire to California. It was during the early summer and the campus was pretty much deserted when I visited; It was a nostalgic experience, but I don’t think I connected to the memory of Earlham any better than I did when I was actually there. I once again felt that I was standing on the edge looking in, and although Earlham had an impact on me, that impact, although positive, was peripheral for me and vice versa.

In my personal life, I married and have three grown sons and two charming grand daughters, the beguiling Savannah and vivacious Cordelia Perry who are both entering first grade this year. Following the break-up of my first marriage, I moved to California where I met and, as close as the law allows, “married”, my partner, Masahiro Kumamoto.

I believe the universe took me to California for the purpose of bringing us together. Since that has been accomplished and my family is now equally split between Japan and the east coast, southern California has little to hold me. Masa and I are planning a move to northern New England within the next year. Although that sounds like a bit further from Kyushu, he assures me that by going over the North Pole it really isn’t any further than from LAX.

I will be glad to get back “home”, even though I know that as any down-easterner will tell you, “ya can’t get there from here”.

I leave you with the words of the Irish drinking song, The Parting Glass:

“Oh all the money that e'er I had, I spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done, alas, it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit to memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass, good night and joy be with you all.”

Felicitations on the 45^th Re-union,