I don’t know why
it takes me so long to get these updates out each month. They have a similar
pattern every time: a witty and insightful opening, review of the numbers,
whatever news classmates have seen fit to forward to me, an appeal for contact
information, and a graceful exit into the wings. I don’t know what the holdup
is, but this month I’m going to blame snow.
Snow, snow, snow, snow, snow! Mind you,
there’s a lot I like about snow. I like watching it come down, so quiet and
graceful. I like how pretty it makes everything look, hiding all the ordinary
crud. I like how it sparkles in the sunlight. But this year, it’s all just been
too much. Every time it snows, all I think is, Here are another couple of hours
I need to spend clearing the steps and driveway, plus all the extra time
commuting. And I’m not even getting the skiing enjoyment I used to get. It
seems like whenever there’s snow on the ground, it’s way too cold for skiing to
be enjoyable, and whenever it’s warm enough to ski without turning into a
popsicle, the snow is gone – or I’m at work.
Yeah, snow. That’s the problem. This
month.
Our numbers continue at the same
plateau. We think we have contact info on 672 classmates. As always, if you
come up with any new email addresses for classmates, please let me know.
Condolences to classmate Marianne Votta,
whose father died recently. Here’s the obituary:
Congratulations to classmate Candy (Williams)
Gauvin, whose mother recently celebrated her 105th birthday. Candy
says, “Mom is finishing her 2nd book that she has written about the Roger
Williams family, our ancestor. The 1st one she wrote was when she was 94!” Here’s
the story from the Cranston Herald:
I’m envious of Candy’s genes.
Classmate Kevin Dailey wrote to share
his retirement experiences: “Do not recall if I have mentioned this but I have
just recently retired. December 03 was my final day. I survived 39 years of government
service. Some of my time was with the US Air Force, but the bulk of those 39
years were as a canine handler at Logan Airport. Retired as a GS12 with the
Bureau of Customs Border Protection.
Looking forward to summer and doing what
I enjoy the most - FISHING! I plan to stick around here. Currently I reside in
Beverly, MA, which is a small city north of Boston. Prime striped bass fishing
territory.
Just recently picked up a new hobby: I
am learning the art of fly tying. The local Orvis dealer, fly tying instructor,
claims that once I get rolling it will become an obsession. I will be taking
his Saturday morning fly tying lessons until I have mastered same.”
Enjoy!
Classmate Dave Fowler is once again
running the Boston Marathon as a fundraising event for the charitable
organization he started in his son’s memory. Dave says, “Hi Gang! Well, it’s
another year and I haven’t gotten any wiser, so I’ll be running Boston again. After
the bombings last year, I’m excited to be able to run this year to support some
of the victims. You can read about it at http://speakerscorner-dave.blogspot.com/.
I also want to put in a personal appeal
for anyone who can help with donations to Help in the Nick of Time. As I
mentioned earlier, this year’s effort will help some of the victim’s families. You
can make donations at:
Simply click on this link, scroll down
till you see the section for donations and where it says APPLY MY GIFT TO: ,
click on the arrow next to the field and select Help in the Nick of Time.
Thanks again for all your support.”
Good luck to Dave! His blog is always
worth reading.
Personal aside: I’ve never been involved
with the Marathon before, but after last year I intend to help out wherever I
can: passing out water or just plain applauding the runners.
Classmate Ernie Rheaume shares his
experience of holidays in an empty-nest home:
“Our son (Ernie) lives in Colorado, our
oldest daughter (Nicole), who got married last year, lives in Massachusetts,
and our youngest daughter (Christina) currently lives in Gijón, Spain.
For Thanksgiving this year, Jeanne and I
were going to be alone for the first time. We were invited to dine with Nikki’s
in-laws. It was very nice, but it wasn’t the same.
For Christmas, it was more of the same. Nikki
and Chrissy were with us on Christmas Eve. Nikki went home around 9 PM as she
and her husband Ben were flying out of Logan at 6 AM Christmas Morning to go to
Baltimore to spend some time with more members of his family. Ernie was in
Rochester, NY, staying with his future in-laws. Christmas morning, it was just
Jeanne, Chrissy and me. We spent the day at my brother’s house.
We finally had our Christmas on December
29th. All 3 children (as well as a husband and a fiancée) were finally together
at our house where we exchanged gifts and had a nice dinner.
Eventually, we will probably be spending
more Christmases away from our home. However, as long as we all can still get
together somewhere, it will be great.”
I think a lot of us can relate to how
complicated it can get.
We have lots of ways to keep in touch
online, now. For example, we have a web site:
(thanks to Ernie Sutcliffe for starting
and maintaining)
and Facebook group:
and a Facebook event for the last
Reunion:
and for the recent Birthday Party:
Check out one or more of these easy ways
to see what people are up to.
Well, that’s it for me. With football
over, and the Celtics and Bruins not really doing it for me, I’m really looking
forward to baseball season. And the end of all this snow.
Later,
Ed DeJesus
