1944

We're still savoring Christmas messages and the presents they represented. Bruceand Puss Thomson, Lynchburg, Va., said they had nine grandchildren decorating their tree. Chuck and Joan Foster, back home in Warren, Vt„ after a trip to Europe: "Loved Gibralter, Portugal, and Amsterdam; less crazy about Spain. Alaska via campers our next project."

From Fran Currier: "Had a nice trip in September through the Canadian Rockies. Left from Calgary, on out to Vancouver, Victoria, and down to San Francisco. Only sorry I missed getting to see John and AliceLesher in Tacoma. Jean Allen, Bob's widow, reports that she has sold their house in Tryon, N.C., and is renting in Quechee, Vt., while she looks for a permanent residence in the Hanover area. "I spent Thanksgiving week in San Francisco visiting three of my kids and their spouses and hope to get back in the spring to welcome a new grandchild."

Sue Wiley Young '77, daughter of Boband Cecile Wiley, Laconia, N.H., had a son early in December, noting that, "My dad needs only one more grandson for a complete baseball team!" Mary Bush, Hap's widow, writes from Naples, Fla.: "Am having a ball buying furniture and settling into my new house here in Florida. It's been 80 degrees ever since I arrived."

Dick and Carol Ranger, Dana Point, Calif.: "We have just become members of the Over the Hill Gang—once over the hill, you pick up speed! Our logo is 'American Gothic,' with skis instead of a pitchfork. We bike, hike, play tennis and golf, ski, etc. Great for jocks over 50."

Rog and Betty Antaya spent Christmas in Lund, Sweden, with their son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren. Takker samykket. And last fall they had a visit in Maryland from old buddies George andCatherine Recke.

Then, hear this from Al and Pat Barrett in Ruxton, Md.: "We are extremely proud of our three daughters who have come up with a 'hat trick' of their own! On Christmas day we were told by daughter Virginia that she is expecting her first baby in August. This means that each daughter, as 1988 opened, was in a different trimester of the pregnancy cycle, with Amy due in January, Barbara in April, and Virginia in August. With our 40th wedding anniversary in May and the 1944 reunion in June, 1988 figures to be a very active year!"

Nearby is a box about our reunion "Topics" discussions. Send your ideas to John H. Stephenson Jr., Box 358, Norwich, VT 05055.

I suspect most of you caught the December Associated Press photo of LeonardRieser turning back the hands of the "Doomsday Clock" in a ceremony in the University of Chicago offices of the Bulletinof the Atomic Scientists. Leonard, who is chairman of the magazine's board of sponsors (and director of the Dickey Endowment for International Understanding at Dartmouth), turned the wooden clock back from 11:57 p.m. to 11:54 p.m. following the Reagan-Gorbachev signing of the treaty on intermediate nuclear weapons.

Sadly, three more deaths: Warner E. Mills Jr., Oct. 1; Harold J. Weeks Jr., Dec. 19; and Howard W. Pennington Dec. 28.

Our sympathies. That's it. Blessings.

Lovejoy Hill Cornish Flat, NH 03746