Celebrating Linden's 25th Birthday!

Posted by Admin on September 12, 2017 at 11:16 AM

Returning and new students enjoying the Linden birthday candle-lighting ceremony.

Although Linden's 25th anniversary takes place in 2018, September 2017 marks the start of our 25th year in operation. With this in mind, this year's birthday celebration held a special meaning for all of us at Linden.

Principal Janice Gladstone took this opportunity to reflect and read a poem by Nadine Stair that our cofounders Diane Goudie and Eleanor Moore shared with students 25 years ago:

If I had my life to live over again,
I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.
I’d relax.
I’d limber up.
I’d be sillier than I’ve been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances,
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would, perhaps, have more actual troubles but fewer imaginary ones.
you see, I’m one of those people who was sensible and sane,
hour after hour,
day after day.

Oh, I’ve had my moments.
If I had to do it over again,
I’d have more of them.
In fact, I’d try to have nothing else — just moments,
one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.
I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot-water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute.
If I could do it again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had to live my life over,
I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall.
I would go to more dances,
I would ride more merry-go-rounds,
I would pick more daisies.