1981

It's August and I'm at the Cape with my family trying to forget that soccer practice, school and work projects are just days away. Today is one of those perfect days with cloudless blue skies and warm temperatures that tease you into thinking it could be mid July. We swim in the high tides of the recent full moon and linger on the beach as the sun falls low and golden against the horizon. Despite my carefree summer mood I'm very much aware of the column deadline approaching with vacation's end. Luckily, some of you are kind enough to respond to my desperate e-mails seeking news.

As a some-time writer (check out his "English 5 paper" 25th reunion essay) and full-time lawyer Bob Olson is sympathetic to my plight and willing to share a good bit of news. He excitedly reports that he is "a newly wed of one year, married to Conni Mattingly, a marital family therapist." Bob and Conni are living in Santa Barbara, California, where he's practiced law for nearly 25 years, specializing in dental practice sales. His Internetbased practice (www.transdental.com) is well developed in California and he's working to expand it nationally. Bob's son Parker is 15 and a freshman at a high school engineering academy, while his stepson Colin is a freshman at the University of Denver. Apparently Colin, an avid golfer, was recently able to lure Bob back to golf after an 11-year hiatus by requesting a round with him at Pebble Beach as a high school graduation gift. Bob is now playing regularly and is completely hooked again!

Mark Carroll checks in from Flagstaff, Arizona, where he lives with his wife and two daughters as well as a horse, three goats, some chickens and a few misguided skunks. Mark, a pediatrician, has worked for the Indian Health Service for a number of years in various roles and now focuses on national program development work aimed at health system improvement. Mark writes, "My wife, Christine, is an archeologist, yoga instructor and chief of taxi service for our daughters. I assist with taxi and assorted school/music practice duties. As many classmates may have discovered well before me, the scheduling demands of active and fun kids can be significant But I wouldn't have it any other way. You can e-mail me at mark.carroll@mac.com."

By the time you read this, it will be late fall and Peter Bogin will have transferred from the Paris office of Spencer Stuart to the Dubai office. As Peter writes, "Strangely enough, the choice came down to Stamford, Connecticut, or Dubai, and for a number of reasons—personal and professional—Dubai won. My work will continue to focus on executive search in the energy, heavy industry and financial sectors. After 27 years in Paris I am both thrilled and apprehensive about the change. Any classmates passing through would of course be welcome. Dubai is like no place you've been before. Same e-mail: pbogin @spencerstuart.com."

Chuck Nordhoff reports that daughter Emily is a freshman at Claremont McKenna College, while son Freddie is starting at Seattle University. Back home in Seattle fifthgrader Ruthie and second-grader Jaquelin keep Chuck busy with school and sports activities. Pat Berry e-mails me with a neat story of a trip to pick up daughter Meg at camp in Maine that includes a stop to see Ann Smolowe in Norwich, Vermont, and a new auto GPS named "Debbie." Debbie routes Pat to Maine via the scenic Kangamangus Highway, sending her spirits soaring and clearing her head. There's more, but I'm out of space and its time to pack to go home. Have a great fall!

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