There was a Women’s Initiative session on which Nyla will report separately. We had over 100 folks registered for the mini-reunion. Surely there are more ‘61s with internet capability who could enjoy these quarterly interludes—it’s easy: no travel, no hotels, no snazzy outfits, and it’s free…! Nuff said.
Women’s Initiative
The Women’s Gathering following the outstanding mini-reunion program was one of our best attended sessions. We were delighted that Karla Goodrich participated. Her great adventure biking across the U.S. certainly inspired lively conversation among the 14 women attending.
Early on the call, it was very clear that, like Karla, the women are still an adventurous bunch. We were happy that a few of our widows joined. The conversation was lively and most centered on the “should we stay or should we go” question. Maria Oehler shared that she has happily relocated from Grass Valley CA to a senior community in Colorado and loves it. Eileen DiSavino’s home is on the market and soon will be moving into a town home. Pani Kolb suggested adding stair chairs that make staying in a multi-level home a viable option. Susan Lynn and Mort will be bi-residence having found a senior community near Boston but will keep their New Hampshire home. Others on the call have (1) not thought about it (Bonnie), (2) already downsized (Patti and Erica) or (3) happily not moving until…whatever (Judith and Nyla).
New connections were made as Marcia Morrison was connected with Pani Kolb as she is planning a New Orleans trip for the Jazz Festival. Pani, has written a guide book to that wondrous city, and years ago, handled tour arrangements for the class’ New Orleans mini-reunion. Many also expressed an interested in joining the class book club.
As with the other gatherings of our Women’s Initiative, the conversation was rich and even though some of us may not be well-acquainted, the bond forged by our mates lives in each of us. At its conclusion, we all look forward to gathering at the next mini.
Gatherers in addition to us were: Ellen Burton, Eileen DiSavino, Erica Forester, Bonnie Gartner, Karla Goodridge, Judith Holmberg, Pani Kolb, Susan Lynn, Marcy Morrison, Maria Oehler, Peggy Ann Shearer, and Shelley Phillips,
Nyla Arslanian and Patti Rich
HOMECOMING 2023--So, back last fall Homecoming was October 21; it rained, ’61 attendance was minuscule, and we beat Columbia. On the eve B4 the game, there was the annual alumni parade to the bonfire/Dartmouth Hall festivities. Al Rozycki and Larry Holden represented the class, and carried the ’61 banner for the extent of the march. Roz: “I was so exhausted after walking in the parade from the assembly near Hanover High, carrying our ’ 61 banner, I was ready to take a seat much less run around the fire. The one guy from the Class of ‘ 58, just ahead of us, was an old fogey Gyrene who started off with a lively step and then limped his way around the Green using a cane and his daughter ’s shoulder! So, Larry Holden and I did well just completing the parade!” Larry: “What Roz didn ’t say was that it rained like Hell continuously for more than 24 hours so that it felt something like a duckboat parade around the Boston Common. At the end of the parade we drew closer to the bonfire to stay warm on the representation from the retired professor of pediatrics that there were no dioxins in the atmosphere from burning creosote rail ties as may have been the case in our day.” To which Dick Beattie responded: “Thanks, Larry!! Been a while since fishing in MT.” Larry: “Dick, I still have one of your sport shirts! Sarah went into the Nearly New Thrift Shop in Ennis and bought me one of the finest donated sport shirts she could find. It cost three bucks. When she gave it to me, I looked at it for a moment and said, ‘Wait a minute, that's Beattie's shirt. I bet it's missing the 2nd button from the top,’ and sure enough it was…” [obviously, a private joke, but fun - ed.]
All of which harked up some great memories of campus days. Every winter Larry’s mom (she called him Tom) would bring her 6th grade class from NJ on winter break to a small guest/resort complex somewhere south of Hanover. Part of the curriculum for that interim was learning to ski—for which intrepid ski instructors LT Holden, HP Serrell, and the undersigned were conscripted to show the kids the way of the slopes. ’Twas great fun (Mrs. Holden was a fabulous person/teacher), and the kids actually learned some rudiments of ski lore. [ask Larry to relate the saga of the designated Hawaiian demonstrating a gelandesprung—right into the low-hanging branch of a snow-laden pine tree… ed.]
Geriatric yuma:
•It's weird being the same age as old people.
•I too was once a male trapped in a female body...but then my mother gave birth.
•We live in a time where intelligent people are silenced so that stupid people won't be offended.
*The biggest joke on mankind is that computers have begun asking humans to prove they aren't a robot.
•Weight loss goal: To be able to clip my toenails and breathe at the same time.
•Threw out my back sleeping, and tweaked my neck sneezing so I'm probably just one strong fart away from complete paralysis.
•I have many hidden talents. I just wish I could remember where I hid them.
D'61 Book Club
Key Reminder As Harris has posted: “The class of 1961 has begun a book club chaired by Doug Zipes for those interested in reading and discussing both fiction and nonfiction works. All participants agreed that the first three books were great choices. Doug has chosen The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride for our next book.The next zoom meeting will be on May 10, 2024 at 4:00 ET, to discuss McBride's book. Those interested should read the book. This is about a thrilling murder mystery, but is a charming, smart, heartwarming story tucked inside a great novel that transcends differences that separate us. It opens with the discovery of a human skeleton at the bottom of a deep well, and continues with life in a community between the years 1925-1936, encompassing several themes including racial politics, sexual violence, friendship, and justice.. (available on Amazon) and sign up with the Registration Button. Further information will be provided as the date approaches. Any questions should be sent to dzipes@iu.edu."
Roz: “When book sales spiked in 2020 and 2021, publishers believed one reason for the increase was that more people had turned to reading during the pandemic, and they were hopeful that some of those people would continue to read when things returned to normal. However, a new report from the National Endowment for the Arts seems to dash those hopes.
The NEA ’s “Arts Participation Patterns in 2022: Highlights from the Survey of Public Participation in the Arts” (SPPA) found that in the 12-month period prior to July 2022, only 48.5% of adults read one or more book for pleasure, down from 52.7% in 2017, when the NEA conducted its prior survey. The decline was greater than the drop between the NEA ’s 2012 and 2017 surveys, when reading fell by just under two percentage points.
The decline in reading between 2017 and 2022 was nearly the same for men and women, and, as in previous years, more women than men read books last year (56.6% v. 40%). The report also found that fewer older readers reported reading a book in the 2021–2022 period than was the case five years earlier. The biggest decline came among 55-to-64-year-olds, where the percentage of those who had read a book fell from 53.6% in 2017 to 43.6%. The percentage of younger readers—those ages 18 to 34—who read at least one book for pleasure in the 12-month period held even.”
Harris: “Roz, in the nearly 7 years that we've been in Chicago, I've read more than 250 books, all ebooks or audio books according to the Chicago public library. Guess I can't make up for the rest. Mac”
Paisan: “Good for you, Harris! Since our arrival in Kumla—2006—our local librarians tell me that nearly 1500 books have been borrowed by this old fogey in several languages, which they say is 'some type of record’…"
tc: “ ’Twould appear that we inhabit a very slender sliver in the pie of human endeavors. Reading is simply what I do. It helps that am appalled by television, but having moved to the olde fartes home—and immediately quarantined by the pandemic —allowed me to pursue my lifelong passion.”
In November, Oscar & Nyla stopped by Palm Springs, as usual, on their way home from AZ, to visit Duane “Doberman” Cox. Our esteemed “Passages” facilitator was getting ready to move into assisted living and looking forward to it In January, Ken Kolb called Duane on the phone (858-648-6654): “Thanks to Oscar and Conger, I talked to Duane a long time this afternoon. Could you send my message to the full complement of ExeComm and tell them he sounds great; needs a walker, and wheelchair, but is sharp as a tack—lucid, laughing at memories we both shared. And would love to hear from our guys and gals. He lives in San Diego Assisted Living where the female ratio to males is 7-to-1. ‘Doberman’ is happy but, as we know, personal and verbal makes the Day a Good Day when one is alone.”
GREEN CARDS: Back in November Ted Moreland notified us of his new address:
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383 Lexington St.; Auburndale, MA 02466 “Unfortunately, I have in the early stages of Alzheimer ’s, so I am moving in to an apartment in my daughter ’s house.” [smart choice to get where he can have assistance when he needs it; get there before it’s urgent - ed.]
Knowing our penchant for a good read, Rich Husband advised: “DEADLOCK by James Byrne is a light bit of fluff with a character like Reacher. You might enjoy a little escape at these trying times and much of the book takes place in Portland, OR. Big plans underway with the undergraduate students planning a big parade followed up by a food fight. Support as witnessed by the full stadium for the games is at a fever pitch. One shudders to think of the riots that might occur should the Indians (whoops) Big Green win the title outright. As Thanksgiving is upon us, I think back to your pecan pie that Pamela ’s Father loved so much. Take care of yourself, behave and think of ways we can preserve democracy.” [One cannot help but visualize the food fight that erupted some 65 years ago when said “Indians” won our first formal Ivy footie title in ’58; why, some of us who played in that funfest in old Palmer Stadium were even assessed the 75¢ “penalty” when ’twas discovered our roommate had borrowed our meal card to dine sumptuously at Thayer in our absence… seems deputy Walt Clarkson was not quite as, um, enlightened as Dean Thad … ed.] “Big Red” Bill Bull checked in also in November: “I was looking at your most recent WWW newsletter and I noticed that you didn ’t have any pictures of me or any of the fantastic 61 ’s in the two photos I ’m sending you… The seven of us and our wives, girlfriends, or daughters get together regularly to spend some very fantastic time together. We have been meeting for 4-5 days, every 10-12 months for about 10+ years now. The group originally was all Russell Sage guys but somehow me and John Henry were honored with an invitation to join the group. The guys in the top pic from Carmel are left to right: Steve Dale, John Henry, Dave Skuce, Barc Corbus, Jon Sperling, Bill Bull, and Bill Wood. The bottom pic order from left to right is Steve Dale, Jon Sperling, Barc Corbus, Me, John Henry, Dave Skuce, and Bill Wood. Cartter Frierson was also a charter member of the group. Unfortunately he passed away a couple of years ago, but his wife Patty thankfully still joins us. She ’s a fantastic lady. And we ’re all fantastic!! Claire and I hosted the Reunion last January in Costa Rica. The one pictured here was hosted by Barbra and Bill Wood in Carmel, CA, and we are planning the next one to be hosted by Barc and Angela in July in Montana. 
Man, that’s fantastic…!
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