1943

Hank Hartman writes to note that he and Margot are settled in their new apartment—in a new building of the same retirement community in Jacksonville, Fla. They are enjoying life there, and Hank advises that they are not planning extensive travel this year, opining that "speaking for myself only, 'if you look like your passport, you're too ill to travel.'" (I'll bet those clubs get a workout in some exotic spot before the year's over!)

Regardless of passport photos, a number of you either have in the near past or will in the near future travel extensively. Consider if you will the case of George and Joan Beaton. Forced to cancel their plans for a cruise to the Mediterranean and Aegean (Joan had, unfortunately, broken her arm), they rebooked for a later date and were subsequently advised by the cruise line that their trip was overbooked, but asked if they would agree to rescheduling five weeks later at half price and with the owner's suite. George's unequivocal answer: "You betcha!" And they were off to London, Barcelona, and by ship to Cannes, Florence, Athens, Olympia, Ephesus, and finally Venice.

Or, the trip of John and Mary Jenkins, who traveled to Ankara to visit with their Fulbright daughter (who is now teaching at the U.of Washington) and continued on to Syria, Jordan, Crete, Sardinia, and Corsica. Highlights: being entertained in a Syrian home in Aleppo and a chance meeting with the Crown Prince of Jordan and his wife at Aqaba.

Or, the plans of Charlie and BarbaraCusack to embark on a 90 passenger bowlanding ship of the American Caribbean Canadian Line to cruise native villages, archeological ruins, and offbeat islands on both sides of the Panama Canal.

Howie Thomas writes from Tucson that he favors the September 30 date planned for the fall mini-reunion in Hanover and hopes he can arrange to attend. Recalling his experiences at the State Department in the fifties (McCarthy era, etc.), Howie notes he's quite in agreement with the remarks on "political correctness" by Ted Miller which appeared in a recent issue of our newsletter, calling the concept abhorrent.

Hex Harrigan writes from Brevard, N.C., to advise that Butch Coningswood underwent serious surgery last year and has apparently recovered. Butch, please write.

Once again we are all deeply indebted to Charlie Cusack, who has forwarded to me the letters and information which you have given him. Thanks, Charlie.

Finally, on a sad note, Bob Ehinger called to advise of the death of Jim Doucette last October, and Gus Rosenthal forwarded news of Connor Shaw's death last May.

Be careful out there, and don't forget to write.

29 Foxworth Lane, Kingston, MA 02364