1967

1967

For this issue, we explored how or in what ways the past incredibly tumultuous 16 months in this country and globally may have introduced positive changes in your life you hope to carry forward. We asked, “What habits or behaviors, activities, ideas, or ways of thinking that you adopted during the past 16 months do you hope you can maintain or build on in the months and years ahead?” Howard Sharfstein wrote, “The last 16 months have given me the gift of time—time to reflect and consider. Previously, my life was so occupied by work and the day-today tasks of life. Time away from much of that has allowed me to think about what is truly important to me and how I want to spend my remaining years. Time has given me clarity and a new purpose—far less work, more time with family, reading what I want to read, and learning more about my faith and its impact on my life.” Others expressed concerns about the information they are receiving in this era. Pat Horgan said, “The blizzard of misinformation and disinformation and the perversion and politicization of what we used to call science during the last year have significantly increased the amount of time I now spend independentlyresearching or evaluating issues. Ironically the whole truth has actually become much harder to find in the Information Age.” Dick Clapp reported that he has “developed a much deeper understanding of airborne transmission of disease and the need to protect the people in my immediate family or community by using masks. I think I’ll always have a box of medical masks around the house and will be much more motivated to use them during flu season or, God forbid, at the beginning of another potentially global pandemic.” John Isaacs wrote, “I had previously thought that working at home would be difficult because oftoo many distractions. In fact, I found working at home quite satisfactory. I can accomplish much by sitting in front of a computer at home, and the time saved not commuting—about 45 minutes each way—makes it worthwhile. When my office reopens, my proposed compromise is that I come into the office one or two days a week and work from home at least two days. We will spend far more time in the country.” Bill Sjogren has gone cyber: “Since undergraduate days, right up to Covid shutdown in March 2020, the smell, touch, sound, sight of The New York Times, especially Sunday, had been a must every week. But now I’m totally digital and newsprint free save for the unstoppable supermarket circulars.”

There may still be time to contact Larry Bowen (lbowenl72@gmail.com) and come to the 22nd annual Rich Paolino Dartmouth ’67 golf open and party on October 2 in Barrington, Rhode Island. And be sure to mark your calendars in ink for our 55th reunion in Hanover September 23-24,2022. Intense planning is underway for a great weekend, so stay tuned for more details.

—Larry Langford, P.0. Box 71, Buckland, MA 01339; 1967damnotes@gmail.com

Larry Langford