1930

Here it is, Saturday, February 26, and I stare at the typewriter and it stares silently back at me. Class notes are due in Hanover on Monday, and the cupboard is bare. What to do? And then it strikes me that admonition we all hear so often to "Reach out and touch someone." That's what I did, and all of the following represents an instant snapshot of a few of the class members as of this very moment.

Dot Booma was back from a very pleasant weekend with the Scribners. This time she was the one to accompany grandson David, happy at Colgate, who was the guest of Fred and Barbara. She is busy now packing the first suitcase for the annual trip to Florida to visit her sister, and on the way back she will see her son in North Carolina.

She tells me that if I am going through Worcester today I shall not find Barbara Butler at her house. She is busy "sitting" with her granddaughter over on the next street; the grandson at Colgate, I think. When Barbara gets home she also will be filling her luggage for a March 9 departure, also for Florida. (Fifty per cent of the class must be there by now!)

Dialing another number, I get the warm voice of the second Dot Booma, and after greetings, here's Hal Booma, full of energy and saying he's very well, thank you. As you know, he has had some problems over the months, but he reports that he expects the radiation regimen he enters on next Monday will put him in shape for golf by the time the snow leaves the Cape. His operation was done five weeks ago; the removal of a tumor in the left sinus necessitated the removal of his left eye and a portion of his upper jaw. He says the surgeons did an excellent job and he will see us at the fall football games. Great spirit why not drop him a note to keep him busy while he waits for the golf season to open.

Next, the dialing of a number in 813 area code brings forth someone who is not Page Blanchard. Not one to entirely waste money I ask for the weather and find that for the last few days it has been "just glorious" in Longboat Key, but "today it is a little gray." Nice voice wonder what class she is in.

Another spin, and here is Bob Blanchard, hale and hearty saying, "We were just talking about you." Charlie Rauch, bless his soul, had been over getting for me a list of classmates at a Blanchard party on February 24 and at another party, on February 5, put on by the Wiggins. Let's hope the list gets here in time to fill out this report. Charlie also is throwing a cocktail party on March 3. Bob reported that a meeting last week of the West Coast Dartmouth Club brought out Ranny Hobbs, Merrill Hayes, and the Van Derbecks. He also says that the Bob Pratts had hoped to be in Florida by now, but Bob developed shingles and is still in Connecticut. Bob, continues to do a little computer programming and says that their son Mark '72 has just moved to Orfordville, N.H.

An unexpected incoming call comes from, you guessed it, Florida from Art Brown in Pompano Beach. He is calling on another matter, but boasts that he was at his usual 109 pounds and 36-inch waist. Lucky! Art reports receiving a card from "Willie" in Syracuse, and after some work found this was the name the Marines gave Cliff Williams, one-time occupant of New Hampshire Hall. No other news from Cliff.

Getting back closer to home, a 617 area code brings on the voice of Liz Butterworth in New Seabury on the Cape. Ed seems to be glad to talk and this Saturday morning is one of his better days. A while back he underwent surgery for cancer of the pancreas and has dropped his law practice. They have been fortunate in selling their house and are planning to move in April back to somewhere on Boston's North Shore, where four of their kids live. Ed was so pleased to have had nice visits with Wally Wasmer and Harry Condon. It develops that Ed has been active all his life in collecting various types of art, including Canton china dinnerware and Oriental rugs, the names of which just glide off his tongue. An opportunity to see some of these, Harry reported from his visit, was a real treat. :

It isn't worth a call to reach Sally and Gene Magenau staying with their son on the West Coast! I know what he is doing: "playing tennis, building the son a linen closet, and arranging for a computer installation in his office; our sympathies to you and Gwen for enduring another New Hampshire winter." With friends like that . . .

So this is how we spent Saturday, February 26.

Now, here it is Tuesday, March 1. This column is already in Hanover, but I've just gotten in the mail from Charlie Rauch the list of attendees at the Wiggin and Blanchard affairs. So here's a late addendum of those at one or the other of the southern class gatherings: Milt and Grace Schultz, Ave and Julie Gould, Gordon and Anne Shattuck, Lee and Flo Sturman, Boof and Billie Perkins, Marge Chase, Babs Allyn, Berta Truex, Jack and Edith Fitzpatrick, Bob and Marge Chittim, Hannah Steers, Scott and Doris Van Derbeck, and, of course, Charlie and the Wiggins and Blanchards, in addition to '29 interlopers Louise and Frank Middleton and Herb and Peggie Fish. Thanks for the late flash, news hound Rauch!

Maple Grove Road Walpole, N.H. 03608