1981
Spring will be a welcome arrival for all of us, but especially those in the regions of N.Y.C. and Washington, D.C., where it is said that the price was cheap for the makings of snowmen, something about supply and demand curves, win-win outcomes and such. Nevertheless, the top 1 percent and the bottom majority all experienced equally the joy of the dumping that slowed the heat of the political debates with a loud hissing sound, briefly.
The spirit of vox clamantis in deserto is alive and well for Dave Focardi, who writes, “I went on a trip to Bhutan in November with Phil deRiemer, a kayak guide I happen to work with doing tortoise surveys in the Mojave Desert. While there, we did (the very) first descent of the Sonam section of the Kuri Chu River.” Now the word sonam means “good luck coming from living a good life,” but honestly, attacking numerous rapids at the class IV+ level seems more like testing your luck. Around the girdled earth indeed. Vociferous may be the tone of happenings in the beautiful hamlet of Atherton, California, where our own politico in residence Mike Lempres has been elected vice mayor in a not so contentious election. Literal life can be dangerous. The phrase “granite in their muscles and their brains” may have been expressed more dangerously than is appropriate for our age recently by skiing trainers Vaughn Halyard and Tim Itin. Wellnatured William Jenkins was taken from bunny hill to back bowl in a matter of hours, not completely with his consent. No matter. He survived and now knows the power of the granite force in his life. Others were in attendance and may have complicit responsibility, including Marc Belton, Paul Yelder, Bob Van Wetter. Bill summed it up succinctly: “Don’t let them fool you. These clowns tried to kill me.” More fodder for reunions, we suppose.
Elliott Davis always knew how to throw a great ’tails party but now he has developed an exclusive venue: his own craft distillery and tasting room, named Mine Hill Distillery, centered in the circa 1872 Roxbury, Connecticut, train station. The project is a “historic restoration of four buildings with a cool 21st-century look inside.” Stopping by to sip is encouraged.
Finally, we have great news. Do you remember the Oscar acceptance speech of Sally Fields when she said, “This means you like me, you really like me,” or Barbra Streisand’s, “Hello, gorgeous”? Well, both are a propos for the next offering: There will be a reunion of ’81s and ’82s during Homecoming Weekend (October 28-30) in Hanover. There will be a dinner with dancing Saturday night (29th) at the DOC House and many other activities. Let’s be honest, it’s Homecoming vs. Harvard, you must go, so get a Sharpie and let’s pen that in our calendars right now.
Veronica and I welcome input from all of you for this column; please email us your news, we would be delighted to share it.
77 Bates St., Suite 202, Lewiston, ME 04240; (802) 345-9861; emilmiskovsky@gmail.com; Veronica Wessels, 224 Buena Vista Road, Rockcliffe, ON K1M0V7, Canada; (613) 748-6248; vcwessels@rogers.com
