Growing Up in the Esplanade

As Kartik Pingle prepares to head off to MIT in the fall, he carries with him enduring memories about growing up at the Esplanade. From his conversations with neighbors at potlucks discussing politics, to their inquiries about his school, and to their advice which helped him shape his educational aspirations (he’s planning to major in physics and wants to be an astrophysicist) — the Esplanade community has been an indelible part of his life. 

I doubt he’ll forget his birthday celebrations when he was younger in the Tye club room, at the pool, and outside in the park. Many years ago, a friend dressed up as Pied Piper and led 20 three-year-olds around the lobby singing songs. At another birthday celebration, Kartik and his friends dressed up as pirates and went around on a treasure hunt. Tom (at the concierge desk that day) offered to dress up as Captain Hook and hid the “treasure” under his chair.

Kartik certainly won’t forget the lemonade stand his friend Elijah and he set up on July 4th in 2013 on Cambridge Parkway. Or inspired by Tom Sawyer’s fence-painting escapade, offering to paint a curb in the garage. Or most recently, racing across to Toscanini’s on First Street to his Saturday evening shift as an ice cream scooper. 

He’s barely going a mile away, so he’ll be around to join an Esplanade potluck, or have a chat in the lobby about soccer or politics while he’s occasionally here to walk Usagi.

— Reflection by Vibha Pingle