2003

Wesley Lippman received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained last September in the Al Anbar province of Iraq after his convoy was hit by an improvised explosive device. The commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps was on hand to present him with the award while he was recuperating at the Bethesda Naval Hospital. Wes sustained multiple injuries and spent three months in the hospital before returning home, where he is continuing physical therapy. Thankfully, he reports, "Things lookpretty good though, and over time I should make a near-full recovery." After leaving the Marines he will most likely go back to graduate school in some capacity while figuring out what to do next. Here's wishing you all the best, Wes!

Caitlin Biedron '05 sent in a very interesting update on her older sister, Ingrid Biedron, who is "currently completing her third year of a Ph.D. program in the neurobiology and behavior department of Cornell University. Ingrid is conducting research on marine bioacoustics and specifically investigating North Atlantic right whale communication patterns. Presently she is studying the impact of shipping noise on right whale calling behavior in an effort to advocate for the conservation of this endangered species."

I also heard from Joyce Fu, a fellow Steelers fan by the way, who wrote to say that her good friend Lauren Ferrone recently started a baking company called Summerhouse Baking. "She makes delicious and creative cookies baked to order. The cookies are baked, wrapped up and sent to your home. They are perfect for gifts, wedding favors or just for your own indulgence! The Web site is http://summerhousebaking.com. Check it out!" Lauren adds, 'Almost every Sunday this summer we'll have a booth at the South End Open Market in Boston; they will be selling more than just cookies—fruit tarts, cupcakes, morning pastries, etc.—and would love to share some sweets with anyone who might be in the area." Considering that just glimpsing at the pictures on the Web site got me salivating, I see an order in my future. They look scrumptious!

Devin Foxall also checked in recendy. "I've been traveling. I spent a month in Ladakh, Buddhist Kashmir. The highlight of my journey was the bus ride through the mountains—violent ripples of deep brown—and the breathtaking view from Taglangla Pass, 17,582 feet above the sea. During autumn I went to Kabul, Afghanistan, for a few weeks to meet with various groups trying to put the country back together. I got to hang out with Rory Stewart, a Scottish man who recently wrote a book about his mane-whitening walk across the country. I recently published a small book titled The Ghostly Ones, which tells the stories of the young people I met while traveling. No matter where they lived—whether in Ethiopia, Iran, Sarajevo or Bolivia—they had found ways to remain human under times of conflict or other dark circumstances. Theirs were stories about how we get by. If anyone would like a copy or wants to see my pictures and writing, visit devinfoxall.com."

Trust me, this is worth your time. The book is absolutely phenomenal.

Please keep the updates coming—our class definitely has some excellent stories to tell!

518 W.Fayette St., #411B, Baltimore,MD 21201; jill.e.haltigan.03@alum.dartmouth.org