I am sorry for the abbreviated column in the last issue. In late January Randi awakened me at 7:30 a.m. by saying, “Honey, there is water in the carpet in my bathroom.” To capsulize, water had corroded a section of copper pipe beneath the concrete slab on which our house (like tens of thousands in Florida) is built. We lost our carpeting, the tile floor in the kitchen and front hall, the cabinetry in the kitchen and one bathroom, and airborne moisture caused $1,200 worth of damage to our 110-year-old family heirloom grandfather clock in addition to the major disruption of our well-ordered and aging lives. We were fortunate to be able to rent a house just around the corner from No. 1835 in which we lived for seven turbulent weeks. We are now back at home thanks to the valiant efforts of Keith Grella and his Service Master crew. He told us that he would have us back by March 15 (when the owners planned to return to our rented house) and he did! Truly a man of his word.


Frank Harrington called to offer his sympathy for this ordeal after reading the last “column.” We had a great chat. Frank is as well as his age permits—going to the gym as often as possible. We agree that the nation needs help and are both glad to be above ground.


We dined recently with Bob Mauk’s widow, Joan, an old and valued friend. She had called to break the sad news of the sudden death of Skip Fauver’s wife, “E.” Joan misses playing tennis as much as I do, but life continues to offer hope and challenges. Clift Whiteman, who with Joan now lives in Naples, Florida, reports having seen Nob Hovde and Harry VanBenschoten recently. Speaking of Nob, I called him a while ago. He answered the phone in an unfamiliar voice. I asked, “What the hell is wrong with you, Nob?” He said, “I must have a bad cold. I’ve been in bed ever since I got up this morning.”


Randi and I passed an especially pleasant evening meal with Bob and Joan McIlwain and Jack and Jill Harned. We all agreed that it’s good to be alive.


There was little or no talk of illness, which, of course, is all around us.


—Nev Chamberlain, 1835 North Garden Grove Circle, Vero Beach, FL 32962; (772) 569-2893; ranevero03@gmail.com