1929

With so many of us moving and the new telephone area codes it's rough to keep in touch. Do tell me your latest addresses and phone numbers.

Al and Marie Downing are full of action. They have five men stripping their latest tobacco crop and are feeding 100 steers, not to mention more cats than ever. A1 reminisced about the dunking night at 21A School Street, Professor Silverman's old house. Stan Holmes, Brett Sine, Joe Walsh, and Harry Baehr all landed in the tub. Who else took the plunge?

Jeff Stearns was good to talk with, but having health troubles. Remember his guitar at Shady Lawn motel weekends?

My obit on John Watson Spangler erred on his date of death of July 7, and failed to mention that he joined Jones & Laughlin Steel Company as executive tax manager. He leaves his wife, Rose, and sister Eleanor.

Two more awards for Hal Hirsch: he's elected to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame, and the Japanese Garden Society of Oregon has set aside a new section of their beautiful garden to honor his name.

Ed Carpenter and many others write me in the hope that President Freedman won't approve too much expansion of the College. Do be assured, Jim Freedman's vision is as sound as his intellect is great.

I confuse people talking about Phoebe Thibodeau, Johnny Davis's widow. Yes, there is a Virginia. It's the same lovely gal who married our adopted member Tibby Thibodeau. She celebrated by holding Christmas at her house with her families for the sixtieth consecutive year. Anyone care to compete?

Confusion comes easier these days: I searched hard in my youth for perfection and truth 'Til the time to act passed, and I blew it. Now I don't spurn advice, but I seldom think twice; In my eighties I just go and do it. The unfortunate moral from this little song Is that both of these methods turn out to be wrong!

Box 630, Monument Beach, MA 02553