1944

Except for surviving record January snows, my high so far (in 2000 was reading TheDartmouth Murders, a 1929 novel by Clifford Orr. The dastardly deeds occurred at college buildings in Hanover and in a rained house by the river. I sent the book as a Valentine to esteemed class president Eric Barradale.

Other highlights of 2000 follow from classmates in the 919 area code. Their responses were made at the end of January, so by the time you read this in May the '44s named below should have had even more exciting experiences.

At Fearrington Village in Chatham County, N.C., Phil Penberthy fought his way through record January snows to stand in long lines at the grocery checkout. He is helping his wife recuperate from major surgery. Adeline, here are 1944 best wishes for a speedy recovery. Phil says she's a basketball filbert. A couple of years ago they ventured out to watch the Dartmouth hoopsters get clobbered by Duke. Or was it Carolina? Whichever. Former naval aviator Phil recalls his squadron's 1945 rendezvous over the lighthouse at Kittery, Maine. They had taken off from Sanford, also in Maine.

But it was to Sanford, N.C., that DickKeys and Renatta drove through record January snows to attend a one-woman theatrical. Thanks to a four-wheel-drive vehicle dating from their days in Quechee, Vt., the 80-mile round trip from Chapel Hill was without mishap. Dick's major 2000 discovery has been the late Patrick O'Brian's seagoing Aubrey/Maturin tales. He also recommends Birdy, a 1979 novel by William Wharton.

Open your 50th Reunion book to read again about what Jim White urbanely called "a learning experience" when his P-51 was downed by an ME 109 over Hungary near the end of WWII. Before being escorted to Stalag 17, Jim met the 109's pilot and its wing man, Peter Esser. Esser and Jim became friends and have exchanged visits at their respective homes in Remagen and Chapel Hill. Good stuff indeed. Esser is now very ill and Jim plans a year 2000 trip to see him in Germany. Great story, great ending. Jim worked out regularly on his exercycle during record January snows.

Two business items: 1) Christmas cards were sent to each class widow. Eric reports, "Their responses were heartwarming." 2) There were no record snows up in granite country but, as Al Hormel's newsletter told us, 16 chilly stalwarts made it to the ski-in at Sunapee.

Keeping faith with the incomparable Fritz Hier's customary sign-off, "That's it. Blessings."

1114 Woodburn Road, Durham, NC 27705; (919) 489-4358