This past Sunday, many students shared a final Family Weekend brunch in Thorne Dining Hall. It was a well-attended affair featuring smiling mothers and fathers, curious younger siblings and hustling masses searching for adequate seating.
Underscoring this excitement were the smooth and jazzy sounds of a talented group of student musicians. The music seemed to give coherence to all the buzzing and wandering individuals trying to squeeze into the lines, refill their drinks and find their way back to their hard-earned tables.
Jazz has always been the sort of music suited to lively environments and while Thorne is certainly no Cotton Club, I felt that nothing would have been more appropriate than to whip out a hefty cigar, light it, take a generous puff and recline while sipping every so often from my glass of (root) beer. Luckily, better judgment intervened, for there is no way I would have survived the resulting stares of parental disapproval.
Hypothetical nicotine inhalation aside, it was heartwarming to see the interactions among jovial individuals, who had settled themselves into a nice round of eating and conversing.
Although they are always excelling at what they do, I still feel I must commend the dining staff for the wonderful food at the brunch. While I can’t recall my meal item by item, I can recall easily the extreme satisfaction I felt consuming it. I am sure it was also a treat for the parents who got to experience firsthand that “No. 1 college food in the country” is more than a slogan on the brochures—it is a reality (one in which I have taken much delight).
Perhaps one of the most outstanding features of the jazz brunch was the outfit sported by Caroline Montag ’17. Draped about her person was the most comfortable looking sweater I have ever come across. It was brown and had something along the lines of an Aztec pattern. Her pants were also brown, also patterned—though not in the same manner—and also comfortable looking. Caroline, not only do I thank you, not only do your classmates thank you, but the world thanks you for all you have done in your efforts to fuse fashion and comfort.
Ever since Sunday, I have been haunted by the shadow of the jazz brunch. In my head I hear the sax, and drums and bass and the boom boom and the skiddily ba, but I seem to be the only one who does. If only all the events in my life were accented with jazz music. Imagine how memorable my first home run would be—even though I don’t play swing stick ball—if saxophones were screeching with excitement as the stitched sphere soared up and over the fence.
Imagine how lively my trips to the grocery store would be if there were a drumroll accompanying every cereal-based decision I make. Imagine how memorable the proposal I make to the first of my thirteen wives would be if every word coming from my mouth were underscored by the seductively brassy tones of a trumpet.
But I digress. Jazz brunch was a delightful occasion for which Bowdoin deserves a big “bravo.” All of the smiling faces seemed to indicate that there was no better way to punctuate a weekend visit to the College than with a jazz brunch.
I feel a few declarations of thanks are in order. Thanks to Bowdoin College for its commitment to excellent service. Thanks to the parents for managing to integrate themselves smoothly into the flow of the typical college weekend. Thanks to all of the accommodating students. And most importantly, thanks to Caroline Montag for her magnificent outfit.