1943

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal? Now that I've got your attention, this is the column that gets written in dreary February. I'm looking over the Ohio River (a landscape of spitting snow flurries) and Louise and I are looking forward to taking up Joan and Bob Ehinger's offer to come visit them for a few days in sunny Florida. Speaking of Bob, he recently penned about a lengthy phone chat he had with Bob Krumm reminiscing about WWII experiences. They concluded they both were among the lucky ones (ditto for me). Speaking of which I am currently reading Masters of the Air by Donald Miller. It is an in-depth coverage of the 8th Air Force and I am learning things I never knew about my old outfit! Bob Ehinger's note led me to give the "old redhead" a call, and we talked briefly about business days when we were both involved with financial matters. As I was about to sign off Bob asked where I was calling from. When I answered, "Cincinnati," he replied as a Muni Bond man would: "Triple A credit rating!" Speaking of Cincy Eric Kunzel's Christmas Pops concert featured the Von Trapps of Sound of Music. A Great show, and Eric noted the children's granddad, who runs the Stowe (Vermont) Lodge had been his Dartmouth classmate. Bing Donaldson, our hardworking class agent, recently wrote about an exchange of correspondence he had with Susan muchmore daughter of our late classmate, John. In her letter to Bing Susan noted that: "The earthquake that shook the Hawaiian Islands on October 16 was the day of Dad's service. My sister Maty said: 'Well, Dad, you just couldn't go quietly, could you? You had to make a statement!' " On the subject of deceased classmates, I am sorry to have to report, in addition to John Muchmore, the passing of Varnum Mead and William Brandt last December and Richard Aishton in May 2005. I'm indebted to classmates Robert Power, Charlie Cusack and Bud Miskell for reading the obits section of their papers and informing me. Our condolences to the families. Stay well!

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