Summer 2009 Page 2

Here is the place for inputs that keep coming in between newsletters.

This update: January 18th, 2010

More news and updates from classmates since the Sept. 11th update --

REUNION 2010!!

Well, of course the big news is that plans for our 50-year are all set. If you are reading this, then the odds are that you already have the information, but just in case, here is a copy of the letter that has gone out to everyone we have been able to contact. Peter Davidson and Gay Mayer have done most of the heavy lifting, getting everything in place -- be sure to thank them. Peter is the contact for lodging, schedule, etc., and as you will note, he needs info from you in the not to distant future. I will be publishing a web page, probably next month, on this site dedicated to reunion news and updates. Hopefully we can have a continually updated list of those planning to attend, and maybe seeing the name of a particular classmate on that list will stimulate those "on the fence" about attending. If you happen to be in contact with classmates who have not received a letter or email, pass on this news to them. The one thing we don't want is for someone to miss this special time together just because they didn't know about it.

And, here is the letter Gay composed for us all ---

Do you recall the experiment in General Science where a jar got filled first with rocks and we were asked if it was full and then gravel got put in and it fit and we thought it was full and then sand got added and it got fuller? I think this was meant to show us that there was lots of space inside a molecule. But it has a deeper meaning which is to remind us of things that are important and that the big rocks will not fit if the jar is filled with sand. Our 50^th Reunion is a big rock!

We have settled on a date and a place!.

Please take a moment to mark your new 2010 calendars, PDA’s, scratch paper or whatever you use to keep track of important dates – Your key first step

Friday to Sunday October 15-17, 2010.

Holly Thomas -- Holly's husband Terry sent us the sad news that Holly died last August after a short illness. She was diagnosed with advanced cancer, declined chemo and other treatments, and died peacefully at home, surrounded by family. Sometimes knows as "Calamity Jane," Holly was a truly vibrant presence in the class throughout the years. Active in drama club and thespians, she was president of the club our junior year, and of course had that lively part in the junior musical. A special gal who will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go with Terry.

Kirk Tuttle, drummer extraordinaire, who was with us until 9th grade writes that his wife of 20 years, Jimie, died in July last year. When I first reestablished contact with Kirk a few years ago, he and Jimie seemed so happy together. Kirk also is fighting a life-threatening form of hepatitis and is on a waiting list for a liver transplant. I don't have any more details right now, but he is happy to take calls at 206-478-0983. His email is also on the email web page. Keep Kirk in your prayers.

And, here at home, my dear wife Elaine died November 27th after a sudden onset of meningitis and subsequent complications. She went in the hospital the beginning of October, appeared to have made a full recovery by November, then relapsed and passed away the day after Thanksgiving. Elaine attended and really enjoyed our last two reunions, formed some special friendships with class members, and was looking forward to the 50-year reunion. That's the last picture ever taken of her, during her time of apparent recovery. (She loved that cat!)

I am keeping very busy with part time work at an alternative medicine clinic (I am not a practitioner.........I do just about everything else), volunteering with 3 different classical music & literacy organizations, working out in many different ways, traveling and trying to keep up with the rapid pace of technology. My new Blackberry has been fascinating & challenging. I still have much to learn on my MAC however.

My husband is taking a sabbatical this year (July 1-July of 2010), but is staying at the Univ. of CA SD Med. School to write a new course & help revamp the curriculum. He also does a great deal of teaching, but no administrative duties. He is younger than I so will be working for a few to many more years.

We are trying to systematically visit South American countries as Spanish is the language we know best (my husband is fluent). 2010 is Chile & will include Patagonia/Tierra del Fuego. 2008 was Ecuador & the Galapagos. 2006 was Peru. This year was England since our daughter is studying there.

I hope you are well today. My father, Richard Carmassi, has forwarded me your information and stated you provide updates/information to the Class of 1960. My mother, Suzi Warburton, as you well know sadly passed away of lung cancer in 2007. I decided to host a charity golf tournament in her honor. Last year was the first year and we had great success. The website is www.carmassigolf.com. I figured you may want to let people know. There are pictures of my mother on the site and it provides all the information you may need in case anyone would like to attend or contribute/sponsor. This year all the money will go to lung cancer research and Loudoun Hospice.

Suzi Warburton's Daughter

As always, lively words from Lynn Dennison Fitzhugh about what is happening in the life of her family.

Finally got around to reading the summer newsletter(s). It's interesting to see how those of us who've retired are redefining our lives. Do you ever say what you're up to these days? If so, I missed it. As for us, Bill's still at the Smithsonian and busy with various exhibits and research projects in Mongolia and coastal Quebec. He won't retire until they drive him out. My efforts to lure him out have been unsuccessful. I'm still mostly writing, but also volunteer gardening at the Natl. Arboretum, continually tinkering with our mountaintop place in Vermont, exploring the northern New England lakes in my little kayak, and becoming more active in civic affairs than is comfortable for shy persons, even knocking on doors for Obama--a big challenge for reclusive old me. (Current goal: stop making excuses and do more of this!)
It was really the reunion idea that inspired me to respond to the newsletters. We would probably attend if the timing worked for us so will be watching for updates.

That's all I have right now. Send me some updates and I'll pop them right in here. It's easy, and people are always glad to hear from you. If you sent something and I somehow missed it, I apologize. Send it again and I'll make amends. In the meantime, think about the reunion. It looks like a good turnout, judging from the early returns, so don't miss out on it!

Items from the Sept. 11th and earlier updates follow for those who didn't catch them the first time around.

I sure wish I could have graduated with you all in 1960. I had to quit school in 1958. It was work or starve. I lived with my sick mother and we got kicked out of our home. I dropped her at my sister's house and lived in the woods in PPleasantville for a short time. Got a job with Pleasantville Electronics Co. and moved to Conn. Worked for an electonics co. there. Went to night school, got my GED. Met my wife Nancy in one of the classes. Got married moved to New Milford, Conn. Had a deli there for 3 years. (Asher Sellner was one of my customers.)

Then moved to Florida and went community college studying computers. Got a job with Seminole County school board for 28 1/2 years. Now retired 3 years.

I recently talked to two of my friends, John Viscomi and Walter O'dell, that I haven't seen in 50 years.

Ed. note -- you can contact Bill on Facebook, which is where he and I reconnected. His email is also on the email page to our site.

Beth Porter sent this update and the story of an unfortunate episode of which she was a victim.....

I'm sorry that I haven't been in touch for a while, but about a
month ago I was the victim of a vicious and unprovoked attack by
a mentally disturbed woman who lives in the building. I only
found out in April that she'd been bullying and harassing some of
the more elderly neighbours since she moved in a couple of years
ago. UK law moves in mysterious ways. And she's a cunning old bat
-- and rumored to have a criminal record.

Up until the assault I'd only had cordial nodding, smiling
relations, and never expected her to become so irrational towards
me. She and most of the residents use the front entrance to the
building, unlike my flat with its own entrance around the side.

Anyway, the police are involved, although because there were no
eyewitnesses the case is unlikely to go to court. I still haven't
ruled out a private prosecution. The police have truly been
wonderful. They can tell her denials are lies, and they're
helping to compile a dossier which might result in an ASBO. It's
undeniable her behaviour has been anti-social if not sociopathic.

The biggest bruise is still faintly visible. My damaged finger at
least wasn't broken, although it still hurts if I press on the
bone. I was shaken though not stirred! My concentration is not
yet back to normal ... I think I'm ok then find I've been staring
out the window for over an hour. Kind of thing. I'm making
provision to fence off the boundaries of my land.

Anyway, don't mean to alarm you, but also didn't want to worry
you that I've been so silent lately.

If you really want all the nooks and crannies, let me know and
I'll relay the whole boring tale.

I hope you're all having a much more agreeable summer!

Beth adds the following, with her typical resilient attitude....

I’m coping with the aftermath, and, also, that I think of all the Class of 60 with great fondness, despite time and the ocean between us.

And here is a lively update from Mary Glynn Early. She was a teacher in Chappaqua for awhile, which I didn't know before, teaching at the Grafflin Elementary School She has some great memories of some of her colleagues/our former teachers to share...

It was fun reading the updates. Remember teacher Michael Siczewicz. He was great. And, I had the pleasure of teaching 3 years at the Douglas Grafflin Elem school before I married and moved to MA. The school was brand new and "Sexy Rex's" wife was the principal: Mary Ellen Thrasher. She was truly a mentor and a fantastic Principal. Also, on the teaching staff were Adrian McGuire, he still sends a Christmas card but never any news; and, Miss Conboy was also a teacher there as well as Mrs. Augat. Miss Conboy was a "hoot" in the teacher's room. Not at all like she was as a teacher. Also had the pleasure of teaching some of our former teacher's children...they were all very bright and enjoyable and the daughter of a noted Children's book writer and the son of two physicists. I also taught Hal Bischoff's daughter, Nancy, who would be around 46 yrs now!!

And I could tell a few stories about Mr. Al Hutin who was related to a person I was dating at the time he was courting Toni! As for Mr. Houmel (spelling?) he was also a mentor of mine, especially since I was in the less advanced classes! He was always kind and willing to explain. Then there was Mr. Herman who taught the "dumb dumbs" in math! He was so good looking. And, let us not forget Mr. Pollock who read the "Wall Street Journal" while we practiced "The great red fox ran over the yellow fence to bag a chicken in deep depression over being in a zoo!" It was one of the only A's I received in HS, while he was making millions!

And, yes I remember being able to go across the street for lunch, at the Bell School. But who remembers the day of the "bomb" scare when we all had to evacuate the building and were dismissed at noon! I never knew who called that in, but it fortunately was a hoax.

Well, time is a great mellower and no matter if you were a "jock", "brain", "class officer", "hood", "popular", "in or out" we were a most talented class of '60. We went on to achieve many different occupations and goals. In one way, or the other, we all survived the "Horace Greeley" years, and thank God most of us are alive to tell the tale. Looking forward to the 50th and October sounds great. By the way, my husband and I had our wedding reception at the Kittle House in Chappaqua. That was before the Clinton's moved in and the prices soared!!

God Bless and Good Continued Health to all: Mary Glynn Earley

Facebook is a real goldmine for reconnecting...... Richard Kuriger is there and we exchanged a couple of nice messages. He was with us until our junior year, when he went off to private school. Richard now lives in the Houston area where he owns an insurance brokerage firm. He has quite an impressive resume to include degrees from Principia College and several advanced financial certifications. You may recall that his family liked to host class outings at Candlewood Lake. It's still a tradition, although now it's on Padre Island. You can contact him on Facebook, and his email is also posted on our email page. Here's nice picture from a recent trip to Scotland.

That's if for this update, except to say, MAKE YOUR FEELINGS KNOWN ABOUT THE REUNION NEXT YEAR. Lots of folks already plan to attend. Probably next October, maybe the last weekend in September. Watch this space!

Steve and Marie (Barkman) Blue are on board for the reunion, and send the following:

Marie and I would love to take in a 50th reunion - sign us up! If its October, we'll make that work. That's prime hunting season here in Colorado, but I've been doing muzzle loading in September for the last few years - weather is a little more forgiving and there aren't so many orange hats in the field.

Also, could you make a minor tweak in our email - in an effort to serve us better Qwest dropped the .net and changed their tag to .com so my new email is sblue46@q.com .

I don't have any monumental events to report, but Marie and I stay very busy on more pedestrian seasoned-citizen affairs. Your exchange with Jim Buckner reminded me of a day in Chemistry class with Mr. Houmeil. As I recall, it was John Cobb who dozed off - in the front row. He was really cutting zzz's and finally Mr. H paused, stared at him for a moment (while the rest of the class awaited in breathless anticipation of what excruciating torture was about to be administered), then retrieved a CO2 fire extinguisher off the wall, aimed it at John and WHOOSH! John had to be pried off the ceiling. I suspect such action would keep a squad of attorneys busy for months in today's environment. But the 50's were a different time.

Steve Blue
Home (303) 683-2601
Home Office/FAX (303) 346-7465
Cell (303) 726-0642
email: sblue46@q.com

A nice note from Ann Bliss --

I'm very excited about a 50th reunion, and volunteer to help however I can.. Reading news from our classmates makes me realize what unusually talented and interesting people we grew up with and I'm looking forward to being able to talk to as many as we can in the time we have It seemed like the time went so fast last time that I came away wanting to know more about what we're all doing with ourselves now.. I'm not too sure that I've read all the emails people have sent, but October 2010 sounds just great. It's such a nice time of year to spend in New England. You know, a lot of us have spouses that have never seen the change in colors, and it's so dramatic. I remember often staring out the windows at HGHS waiting for school to let out and even hen being overwhelmed with the beauty of the fall leaves.

Done a lot of traveling since my last email, two kids three grandchildren and they all live in the area so we get to see them often. Our dog Toby, a deranged but lovable Wheaten Terrier keeps us on our toes, and gets us out every day for walking. Seen a fair amount of Patti Olson, Mickey Ruderman who live in Boulder (Last I saw Mike he was talking about going back to NY or NJ-- something about being nearer to the children). We all had dinner last year with Peter Whitney when he was in town --- that was an interesting dinner conversation. Ironically, what I most remember about him was his campaign promise to us that we could have PBJ sandwiches for lunches.

Anyway, seeing people after 50 years is a little like watching an old Twilight Zone episode, isn't it?

Here is the latest from Kirby Oak

Thanks for the update. Have seen two of our classmates this past year, John Rutherfoord in Tucson,AZ and Fred Chambers in Ft Plain, NY. Efforts to contact Ed Reardon in Mt Kisco unsuccessful. I get back to Westchester only about once a year now, last time in October.
Am heading to Thailand 21 Jul for 3 weeks. Was there last Nov. Stopped at Udorn enroute to Laos. Believe you were there during Vietnam War. (Ed. note -- that is correct, '66-'67) It is now a commercial airport with sizeable passsenger terminal. Did not see any military planes on tarmac.
Hope we can do a 50 yr reunion. Went to my college 45th at end of May.

Class President, Alan Campbell, has joined the ranks of the retired, but like so many of us, remains as busy as ever.

Since I've been out of touch for so long, I'll bring you up to date on what I've been up to. As we've all learned, when you get to a certain point in life, you don't have much unless you have your health. After years of nothing out of the ordinary for both Martha and me, we've both encountered some health hurdles. Martha has successfully dealt with two bouts of breast cancer and I've had a total knee replacement and open heart surgery for a mitral valve repair. After a rough couple of years, however, everything is fine on the medical front.

I retired in 2000 as senior v.p. and general counsel of Unitrode Corp. when the company was acquired by Texas Instruments. Since this was the third company that I worked for to be taken over by another, I decided that maybe it was something about me and I decided to pack it in. Therefore, I am now a "recovering lawyer" and very happy about it. It means that as each day passes, all my past professional mistakes are one day further behind me in the rear view mirror. I'm still keeping somewhat involved with things quasi-legal by doing some arbitrations and mediation, but not enough to interfere with enjoying things. Martha is still practicing law and I'm trying to encourage her to quit. Her form of client isn't easily handed off, however, since most of them are elderly low or non-payers. Up until recently, I've been heavilly involved with Outward Bound, first on the national board of trustees and then on the board of the Thompson Island Outward Bound Center in Boston. As Outward Bound seemed to be moving away from its origins of wilderness based programs to other areas, I thought it was time to step aside.

We've done a lot of traveling to exotic places-- Antarctica, Nepal, the Galapagos, Mexico and a couple of barge trips through France, but since 9/11, travel is a hassle and we've stayed closer to home. We still live in Newton, MA where we're close to our two grandsons, ages 8 and 6. We go to a lot of youth hockey and little league games and we spend a lot of time on Cape Cod where we're building a new house and I'm attempting, without much success, to improve my golf game. If any classmates are in the Boston area or on the Cape, (and I'm serious about this!) please call or email and we'll get together and raise a glass of wine. (arcampbell@comcast.net or 617-527-5178)

I still see or talk to several classmates regularly but I want to mention one in particular that I think would really appreciate hearing from people. Peter Holmes lives alone in Wernersville,PA and is recovering from a stroke. I know he'd really appreciate it if people would give him a call to say hello. His number is 610-670-0474. The picture is from one of Alan and Martha's trips, engaged, as Alan says, in one of their favorite activities.

Ed. note -- Acting on Alan's advice, I called Peter and we had a nice talk. He lives at 709 Hill Rd, #5, Wernersville, PA 19565 and is glad to hear from classmates. Pete graduated from Dartmouth, along with Alan, and went into teaching for awhile, then attended law school in the 70s. His career as an attorney, specializing in labor law, was shortened due to some health problems. One of his sisters is in the area and helps him out since his most recent stroke. Pete's older brother Bill (Greeley, '58), whom many of us played baseball with, is a doctor and lives in Minnesota now. Despite his health problems, Pete seemed in good spirits, is as sharp as ever, and has a positive outlook.

Rob Barns responded with this nice news about his activities -

It does not seem possible that next year will be 50 years since the fun days at HG. A reunion sounds great. Elizabeth (Lisa) and I plan on attending. As for news here, here I go. Some of this may be old news but who can remember at this age. Retired after 21 years in the Army as a First Sergeant in 1996. The very next day I was hired and taught JROTC at the Nixa High School, Nixa, Missouri for 12 years, retiring a second time on June 30th 2008. Unlike others, I have so much to do in retirement I wonder how I ever had time for a full time job. We watch our two younger grandchildren five days a week. Hunter, age 5, is a special needs child and Kolten, age 3, are such a help to grandmother and granddad that any job takes infinitely longer. However, the memories are priceless. Our other two grandchildren (Jennifer, age 9 and James, age 6) used to live here in Ozark but are now in Jacksonville, Florida. Outside of watching the two boys, my days are full of church business (I am the treasurer), sailing (I have an 18 foot Hobie Cat), building a garden railroad (the boys help), and reading all those books I never had time to. Somehow we also have time to travel to family and friends scattered around the country.

That catches me up - I think. I will try to send pictures of the "good old days" as soon as I find the photo album.

Carlos Ballantyne has a fun blog, with lots of pictures and musings. You can access it here --

http://ballantynesinspiredmusings.blogspot.com/2009/07/customer-looks-back-at-photographer.html

And here is a quick note from Dick Howe with news of his family

Quick note.......... Reunion sounds great! Time, place, accommodations etc. would all work for me, as my lack of work schedual allows great freedom! Possible conflict may be Patsy, but can possibly work around her sched. if she has one by then? National health care could make the difference between her working or not, since she's tired of supporting me. Just returned from FL. Took our whole family to Vero Beach for three weeks to visit Mom (96 yrs. old). She beach partied with ours and my brother's familys several times and got to see our four grand kids. Two for the first time. Had dinner with Sid and Joanie Greer, alls well with them. Please keep me posted on reunion, if I can help in any way, be happy to. PS: Just rec'd e-mail from Jim Hands, wanted me to call him, will do tomorrow.

And likewise a short, but nonetheless welcome, note from Carole (Odiorne) Munro --

We are currently in Edinburgh Scotland for the summer where we are enjoying our two year old granddaughter and the cooler weather (as rainy and cool, unlike hot and rainy in Florida). Peggy Dickenson keeps me up to date with the Herd in the Halls since I don’t seem to be getting it any more. My e-mail address is now:

Plumpudding42@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing the plans for the 50^th.

Ed. note -- I update email address changes as I get them on the Emails web page, which you can see here.

And that is all for the latest news. Send more and it will find its way to this page. Pictures coveted.

Before looking at other news, here is a list of people in our graduating class for whom we have no address/email; Just no contact, or had contact but have lost it. If you have any ideas about any of these, please let me know and maybe we can track them down. It would be sad if there were someone out there who would want to come to a reunion, but just didn't know about it.....

JUDY BARR

SHARON BIGELOW

BONNIE CAMPH

PAUL DEIGNAN

CINDY DRURY

JACKY GATES

SUZANNE GREGG

BILL IRWIN

ROSEMARY KEANE

WOODY KELLY

TOM MACKEY

BOB PASSMORE

BARBARA PUEHL

JANE RITTER

VIRGINIA SCHUCKMAN

BARBARA STOCKER

As you may have noticed if you checked out the "...And Other Stuff" page, Ken Nye has another book of poetry out, (titled A Dog is a Gift ) and sends along an update on how he and wife, Ann (Schmidt) are doing.

Wanted to share just as couple of things about the Nyes. My mom died last August after a ten year ride with Alzheimer's. Ann and I were glad she was in Maine for those ten years because we got see her whenever we wanted (which as timse was daily). and she loved Maine. We scattered some of her ashes into the Lake at our summer home in Wayne and buried the remainder with my dad in the cemetary of the Greenwich Second Congregational Church, the last church he served. (My dad's been gone 33 years.)

The bit of happy news is that my son, Ken, who waited until age 40 to get married, and his gem of a wife, Jessie, who brought a 7 year old daughter with her into the marriage, had a little boy, now a year old, named Kenny Nye. They are expecting another baby in December.

Had cataract surgery last week. Parkinson's is ok, doing its thing. Ann hasn't 'had a defibrillator incident for five years now. We are beginning to hope that she has outlived the maverick cardiac syndrome that caused the problems.

I've got a third book out now entitled "A Dog Is a Gift." poems about dogs in general and my dogs in particular. Available on Amazon or from me if anyone is interested. ($10m@, but you guys can get it for cost,$3 plus postage. Oh,hell. If you want a book, let me know. I'll send you one., no charge.) My fourth and probably last book of" poetry" will be out at the end of the summer. Entitled

"Clouds of Glory. "(Anyone recognize that line?)

Ann and I wish everyone well.

Ken

Ed. Note -- Ken has a publisher's web page where you can find out more about his work. It's http://kennyepoetry.com/

Anne (Hill) Connelly provides a nice summary of her activities now.

As to the newsletter, not much news here. I have been volunteering at an area hospital in the gift shop and also volunteering at Hospice. I have had several relatives who have been cared for at Hospice and wanted to support such a great facility.
Karen Salvesen Ainsworth made the comment that she didn't know how to spend the rest of her life and I too suffer from that. After a very busy life with 5 children and owning 2 children's clothing stores, I do find the need to keep busy. I have also discovered a great rec center in Arvada and go to a cardio or yoga class 5 times a week. My husband has some health issues and is content to stay home most of the time. So I try to keep myself busy and "out there."

Ed. note -- Anne also volunteered to help out in reunion planning!

October is great! Weekend is great! Dinner sounds great! Picnic is also great! I'm easy to please.

On a sad note, my husband, Charlie, passed away in April from complications with Diabetes. He was a seven year survivor of Pancreatic Cancer and the complete Whipple Procedure in March 2002. It is rare that anyone survives Pancreatic cancer surgery seven years. We were married for 36 years.

Jim Buckner sent a real fun email recalling some of our early teachers, and also his time at the King St. School. (How many of you remember that?) His note prompted a response from me, which in turn dredged up some more fun memories from Jim. Here are the two notes.... good stuff..... I also included my intervening note...

1. Jim to me:

Wasn't there a first grade teacher (at what became the police station) named Mrs. Kabatchnik (spelled phonetically of course).

I remember fondly my second-grade teacher Mrs. Moore; and my fourth grade teacher Miss Maloney; Mr. Allard in the 5th grade (we didn't
have a middle school, for us it was at Roaring Brooke). I believe that it was our third grade teacher that taught us Capitalism 101 by
having us set up a "Snack store" so that we could order snacks (e.g. fritos) at wholesale and sell them at a profit to other classes (as
well as to ourselves).

And 6th grade was back to Horace Greeley. Strangely, I feel that I remember virtually nothing about grade 6, except that we could go to
the deli across from the bank and get a ham-and-american wedge for 35¢. Or, maybe we "couldn't go, but did?

Not so fondly, do I remember Miss Conboy! Or my first grade teacher who is probably still selling -- on e-bay -- the contents of her
stockpile of confiscated articles that she stored in her desk drawer.

2. Me back to Jim:

Wow - the King St. school. My first grade teacher there was Mrs. Kiley. 2nd grade was a British exchange teacher - Miss Colby. Kind of temperamental but instilled a life-long love of good literature in me because we practiced handwriting by copying poems off 3x5 cards she had. Lots of it from Shakespeare, although I didn't know it at the time, but even as a 2nd grader, I appreciated the fine words.

Seems like you and I never were in the same classes in elementary. I had Mr. Lindsay for 4th, Mr. Haig for 5th and Mr. Cahill for 6th. I think during 6th grade we couldn't go off campus for lunch. But we could in 7th and onward. Over to Ellis's deli for a ham and swiss wedge, for 35 cents. Did you know that Roaring Brook has only had four principals since it opened in 1951? One of the schools I taught at here had 5 principals in 6 years. (Of course since there are 21 elementary schools in our district, so there is a lot of movement by administrators and teachers alike.)

3. And back again from Jim:

didn't we spend part of '50-'51 in-town and part on Roaring Brook Rd? (Ed. note - correct Roaring Brook opened in April of '51)

I remember Miss Colby, I think she was the teacher who lived with the Finlaysons - not sure of course, memory not so great - like the blank of sixth grade -- that really bothers me to the point where I wonder if something traumatic happened that year.

I imagine we were together when I reported a very, very high object; flying very fast - and couldn't get them to believe me. Then we heard later about sputnik. Remember, the family next door to the observatory and all the barbecues they had that summer? And that sound amplifier on the roof to help catch planes... boy, the Russians are launching satellites and they have us looking for propeller planes. (This refers to time Jim and I spent together in the Ground Observer Corps station in Mt. Kisco.)

I remember the Thousand-lines punishment for chalk-throwing - Mr. Casey -- though I don't remember the sentence we had to write. I think that might have been related to the trouble the class made for a new teacher that I don't think made it to the next year -- possibly Bleemer?

I remember one year when shooting paper-clips was very big (and very dangerous); and the after-school (half-day session) in a voluntary science "lab" that was really interesting (with Mr Houmiel) and even more interesting when Paul Dean didn't wait for the oxygen to be flushed from the flask before igniting the Hydrogen -- we found glass in the sink four lab tables away. One of us had a small cut (I was standing across the table from him) -- Mr Houmiel came calmly over and said to Paul: "What did you do now? Doctor."

That was fun! If you have some amusing (or serious for that matter) memories of teachers or classes, send them in! I am sure there are a lot of good stories just waiting to be told.

As usual, Carlos Ballantyne has been globe-trotting, but how he financed this latest trip is a story all by itself.

By a multiple set of interlocking flukes I moved to LA last September as I was otherwise homeless. A few months later at the suggestion of a friend I went to a cold call audition by a casting agency. They loved me, signed me. A few days later I went for an audition and booked a part in a huge IBM commercial that began playing at the Masters this April ‘09. I got my first residual check and went down to my local Pakistani travel agent and booked a ticket to Kathmandu. I just got back from a month in the Himalayas where I was able to road test my total hip replacement of 18 months ago. I spent about 2 weeks above 10,000 just goofing off and day hiking.

For more of my continuing adventures catch me as http://twitter.com/carlosjii

As you will see, I got pathetically behind on Doug Gibson's whereabouts, but he was kind enough to get me back on track:

No, I am not still in Maine, in fact I came to VT in 2001 -- just before 9/11 -- and live in Quechee which is right near Hanover, NH and Dartmouth. My four kids are spread all over and I have 9 grandchildren!!!

Life has been good and I am thoroughly enjoying.

My address is:
PO Box 751
Quechee, VT 05059