Junior Parents Weekend strikes directly at the heart of the class of 1999, provoking a spate of mixed emotions.

There's joy at seeing beloved giftladen relatives and excitement about a weekend of activities that include an inverse relation between classwork and good food. But above all, students said they have felt a nagging fear about just what might happen when their parents hit the Yard.

"We want everyone to be part of the weekend, even if their parents don't attend. Because while the weekend is focused on the parents it is equally important that they have a chance to meet our friends," Danielle A. Hootnick '99, co-chair of the Junior Parents' Weekend committee, said.

All juniors interviewed named the Masters' Receptions--held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Master's residence of each house on Friday--as their priority among the weekend's events.

"I want [my mother] to meet the masters," SarahK. Earp '99 said. "I really get along well withthem."

"The next time they'll see [the Masters] is atCommencement when things will be all crazy," saidone Currier House junior.

Earp mentioned that her mother plans to eatdining hall food during her visit--just for theexperience. Parents like Earp's who plan to dinechez Harvard should not base their evaluation ofcampus culinary offerings on a weekend sample.This is especially true given the fact that aspecial antipasto lunch on Saturday might discounta student's two-and-a-half years of complaints.

"The key part of Parents Weekend is that youget taken out to restaurants and don't have to eatin the dining hall," Andrew I. Shulman '99 said.

In fact, every student interviewed says food isthe most welcome gift from home, a gift that trulykeeps on giving-if horded properly.

"My mom's bringing a bunch of things for all myroommates," Kelly M. Flynn '99 said. "She tookrequests."

While Flynn extolled the heartwarming value ofchocolate chip cookies, Heather C. Chang '99 lustsafter something more. Like many students, Chang'sparents are unable to attend the weekend event,and she will be left yearning for traditionalChinese food, the stuff mom makes at home.

"It's one of the things I miss the most," Changsaid.

In addition to food, Felix Tollinche '99 said"basic household supplies that college studentsnever buy but are always in need of," such aslaundry detergent and jumbo-garbage bags arealways in demand come Junior Parent's Weekend.

With little time for visits to Star Market, (oreven CVS) students may have to rely on theirparents' intuition. From Master's receptions toroommate dinners and events hosted byextracurricular organizations, if Weekendorganizers have their way, most parents will spendthe weekend on the go--just like the averageundergrad.

In fact, many students said that the rapid paceof events will put them behind in their normalwork schedule, and their academic lives will, as aresult, be waylaid on the road to mid-term exams.

Some said that they would not tell theirparents about the normal sleep habits that keepthem going--late to bed and late to rise--but willinstead adopt a faux sleep schedule to putparents' minds at ease.