1927

Here it is 1988 and we embark on our usual struggle to refrain from listing 1987 on the birthday cards which we are sending out to classmates who are all well into their eighties. One comment that we get frequently is "Oh, to be 80 again.' But we are not quite sure whether to interpret this as a complaint because of aches, pains, and more serious ailments or as a rejoicing over previous accomplishments.

One classmate who has had more time than most to ponder the above is MikeChoukas, who at 86 is the senior member of Tribe '27. He is happy and reasonably well in Portsmouth, N.H., plays cards once each week in a local bridge club, and, weather permitting, helps to deliver meals on wheels to shut-ins. His only complaint, and this a mild one, is that his wife, Gertrade, keeps reminding him that he is no longer a spring chicken.

As time marches on, so do the abodes of classmates. Brick Stone has moved from New Canaan, Conn., to a retirement place near Washington, D.C., where his new address is: Goodwin House West 1037, 3940 South Jefferson Street, Falls Church, VA

22041. Ed and Dot Jacobs, after several years of waiting, have finally settled in at the Quaker retirement home called 21 Kendall at Longwood, Kendall Square, PA 19348.

Mim and Ben Bell are spending the winter at their place at 2539 Breshman Road in Sarasota, FL 34231. Mim gets Ben out frequently in his wheel chair as they go to church, parks, and stores. Ben is alert and enjoys having letters read to him

Still pondering about moving is Bob Tobey, who was talking about going to Florida in early November to start looking around for a place to settle permanently.

Considerably more venturesome is Gordon Colby, who last year, at 80, built himself a new home near his previous one in Southbury, Conn. He wrote that only time will tell whether or not he was smart to have embarked on such a project at his age. Gordon spent most of last summer planting, transplanting, landscaping, and gardening.

No matter what you yourself are planning, if anything, be assured by the words of Johnny Hough, who wrote that life in a retirement home in Boulder, Colo., is not so bad. He and Eleanor are just poking along doing really interesting things which often have no relationship to their previous interests. He said, "Time goes faster than I ever thought it could and it is very easy to keep busy."

We are sorry to report the death of PhilipR. French last October 29.

11 Rolling Lane Wayland, MA 01778