1931
Trudy and I have just finished burning our diplomatic correspondence, i.e. Christmas cards. Each year when we do this we feel a little sorry about it, but we don't have the room to keep them, and we do not feel like taking them to the dump. One card we didn't burn - the one from Peg and DickHolbrook. It was a second hand, postcardtype Christmas card postmarked originally in 1907. I guess we'll keep that one for our memory book.
The following came from Dick Chase: "Barbara and I decided to change the locale where past holidays were celebrated. Instead of Massachusetts or Rhode Island as had been the case for umpteen years, we headed west. Met with daughter Diana, a speech therapist in the San Francisco school system, then on to the Hawaiian Islands with her. She returned early for work but Barbara and I rounded out four weeks before returning home to the snow and ice. Saw all the islands and had a grand time. Highlight of the trip was the Chase family spending Christmas with Mary and Jim Laughton in their delightful home at Waianae, Oahu. Evelyn and Dave Bender with their daughter Diane had dinner with the Laughtons and the Chases in Honolulu a couple of days after Christmas. The Benders were en route to Tahiti, etc., before returning to the San Francisco area. Mary and Jim are fine and wonderful hosts. Mehola! Can well understand why they keep staying there. We did have to leave, for as H. Wilder Smith said, 'Polynesian paralysis was starting to set in.' " Dick enclosed a snapshot of the dinner party. I readily identified Dave and Dick, but the young man with the black hair looked like a stranger until I finally realized it was Jim. Maybe he dyes his hair? Wish I could have submitted the photo for publication but (1) it was in color and (2) many of the subjects were holding glasses of some kind of liquid, probably pineapple juice. I concluded that perhaps it was a Hawaiian publicity stunt.
Dave Bender also wrote in a similar vein. In addition Dave offered the 1931 year book for my use, as did Dutch Holland.Larry Allen, however, beat everyone to the punch, and has already shipped to me the Aegis and the Green Book after I had writ- ten an acceptance to him. They are on loan to me until the next reunion. Thanks to all involved for their thoughtfulness.
A postcard marked San Juan arrived here from Ellie and Bunce Clarkson who did some Caribbean island hopping in January.
Marvin Chandler '32 also offered his 1931 Aegis which was quite gratifying to me, for it is evidence that members of other classes also peruse these notes.
Jess and Rex Fall are contemplating three weeks in England and Scotland this spring, unless LBJ & Co. bump,s foreign travel.
A note from Bill Steck re: information about some departed classmates. In the future should I scatter a few requests among you for information regarding any one of us, what I really will appreciate is a bit of personal remembrance, if any. Such individual recounting will make a factual notice of passing much more meaningful to the rest of us.
Parker Soule forwards a letter from SpeneeCram. Spence, who is retired, has taken an elective non-paying job as president of *he United States Figure Skating Association, for a three-year term. He is dividing his time between Islamorada, Fla., and Hendersonville, N.C.
Another book reviewed in a recent ALUMNI MAGAZINE is by Jack Ewers, "Artists of the Old West," with 164 illustrations, 35 in color, published by Doubleday.
Fred Burhardt's wife, Violet, received her B.A. degree at San Diego College, Calif., at the top of her class, last June. She had a 4.0 mark that can't be topped! Violet and Fred have two children, Elsa, a graduate of Pomona College and former California junior women's tennis champion, who is doing graduate work toward a teaching career, and Robert, a freshman at Grossmont College. Violet, whose major is psy- chology, is now going on toward a Master's degree with the aim of teaching in a junior college. Obviously, nobody in the family heats Mother's report card.
An exhibitor at the National Boat Show in New York advertised for a couple interested in getting married aboard a 33-foot houseboat during the show in February; the reward, a two-week honeymoon in the houseboat, in Florida. "We were surprised when we heard about it," said Joe Choate, longtime skipper of the National Boat Show. "We thought it was a little undignified." So the wedding never took place. Joe probably figures that there is enough commotion in the boat business as it is.
Changes which beg for an explanation: George Stevens now at the College of Law, University of New Mexico, in Alberquerque; Henry Reed now at the American Embassy, Rome.
Spring is nearly here! Jim Swift is flexing his muscles for his third year.
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