1940

Strange to be reporting 1997 Christmas cards in May, but here are a couple. GeneBacon was enjoying "living it up on our way to Egypt and South Africa," she says. Ben was the photographer. Greetings from Frank Wright. Alovely card from Allen and Monika Johnson. It was a reproduction of an abstract by Monika. Ruthe and Chet Berry's greetings showed three generations of the Berry clan taken during a visit last summer.

From Cliff Holmes: "Christine had surgery in February (1997), an operation that had been put off since Massachusetts days. It was very successful and made her life much easier. Christine changed doctors, and the new one diagnosed her with Parkinson's disease and prescribed medication specific for P.D. It has been helpful. At the Cornell football game during the mini-reunion last fall we had Joe, Eileen, and Jason in the stands with us and Chloe performing on the field with the marching band. My major year-long project is hiking with the Tucson Park and Recreation hiking classes. Also have my own group called the Cliffhangers. We hike once or twice a week."

Bertie and Joe Bird report from Williamsburg, Va., "We found having a little housework, no yard work, and a little cooking gives us more free time to enjoy Williamsburg. There are many interesting places to see and visit in this town and surrounding area. We have much more time to travel, and we feel very safe here. We really don't have to 'lock up' every time we leave the house. Almost everyone is retired military. There are lots of bridge players and golfers. I almost get enough bridge, at least three times a week, one game of which is a sanctioned ACBL game. Since we are exempt from all the usual housekeeping, we decided to devote some time to higher learning at William and Mary."

I wrote to Ted Miller about a Vinalhaven, Maine, slide show we had seen. He replied, "Tweedy and I first went to Vinalhaven was sumumer of 1943. We were married in 1942, and this was our first vacation. We had lobster by the bushel at 25 cents a pound. The island was very quiet. A dog slept in the middle of Main Street almost every day. We liked Vinalhaven so much we have vacationed there every since."

Bob Weil wrote, "Thanks so much for your birthday wishes a la Memorial Field. The older I get, the more those days mean to me, and your card was, indeed, a most pleasant reminder."

Last year Lloyd Blanchard planned a trip to Scotland but just did not feel up to it. Instead, a brief trip to Prince Edward Island using the new Confederation Bridge, which replaced the ferry boat.

Jack Faunce, 11 Overlook Drive Canton, CT 06019;(960) 693-8901