1951

We're off again! First, a big you know what for Prof. Ed Mansfield. He has received a Special Creativity Award of about $ 100,000 from the National Science Foundation "based on outstanding scientific/technical progress achieved." He'll use the money to support research in the economics of technological change at the University of Pennsylvania..

A year end letter from Russ Dilks speaks also of public service. Russ has given much of his life to the Boy Scouts of America. He devotes more than 1,000 hours a year, most of it to the training of adult leaders. Russ missed our fall weekend in favor of his 40th Yale Law School class reunion. He mourns the passing of the New Haven he remembers. My Madison is a New Haven suburb, and Russ has it right when he expresses his preference for Hanover's charms.

Don't look for the Chet Cotters in Beaufort, N.C., even though I reported them there recently. Chet and Pat moved to Beaufort, South Carolina 29901, near Charleston (Box 543). Apologies to southbound snowbirds frustrated while seeking a pit-stop based on my gaffe.

Dave Hilton's annual, lively, illustrated letter reports an inspiring trip to Israel, visits to all four widely scattered sub-families around the U.S., Ginny's severe distress with back troubles culminating in a spinal fusion, and, more happily, Dave's retirement on his 65th birthday last November. Dave had a second birthday celebration with Evanston neighbor Jim Bovaird. (By the way, your scribe has all your birthdays in a little book prepared by Bob Leavitt almost 40 years ago. It is arranged, alas, by date, making research difficult. But if you want to know whose birthday you share, just ask.)

Fumiko and Dick Halloran are atop Mariner's Ridge, Hawaii, overlooking the "the vast Pacific." Dick is writing for American and Asian publications about Asia, U.S. foreign policy, and security issues. The U.S. Information Agency invited him to go to Korea to talk about North Korea's nuclear ambitions and reunification. He was shocked at the intensity of anti-Americanism there. He and Fumiko were also in Katmandu for two weeks, working with Nepalese journalists to revitalize a struggling press in a four year old democracy. Dick has just started teaching international news coverage at the University of Hawaii. Their letter is packed with more details of what is clearly a fascinating and important life. Another '51 back from Katmandu is Bill Friedlander. He and Sal climbed the Himalayas and followed the ancient trade route from India to Tibet. Bill's prosthetic hips performed impeccably, and a photo proved they reached 17,800 feet at Thorung La Pass. One of Sal's verses from their card:

"We walked among the 'giants,' (a humbling exercise)

We learned how very small we are in God's and Buddha's eyes."

On that uplifting word we take our leave. Note below how easy it is to reach the column by e-mail.

48 Webster Point Road, Madison, CT 06443; Compuserve 73524,2707