This will be the shortest column that I will have served up to you in the seven years since I began this tour. Part of the reason may be because I am getting a little bit old and a little bit tired. The main reason, though, is because—so are you. With but a few exceptions you give me no news. Let us fire up, gang. I want to see your name in print.


On the other hand, I had best sharpen up too. I cannot read my notes about a July 31 phone call from Frank Harrington, during which he told me something about a 6 no-trump bridge hand, doubled, which left him frustrated. I do recall, however, that Frank and Rosemary are fine.


Bob Kilmarx called. He was wondering if I had Tom O’Connell’s e-mail address. To my surprise, I did not. I did have his address and phone number. Bob still has his wonderful Nonesuch sailboat, which he repurchased several years ago.


Nob Hovde continues with his avalanche of humorous and informative e-mails. One contained a frightening prophesy delivered by a former accountant for IBM that the United States will become insolvent regardless of any congressional efforts to prevent it. Another, in a lighter vein, told the story of a distressed mother frantically telling her doctor that her little girl had eaten ants. The doctor assured her that it was all right—that eating ants would do no harm. But when mother further confided that she had administered ant poison in order to kill the critters, doctor changed his mind and ordered an ambulance. The rest of the “idiot” stories were great too. Thanks, Nob.


We continue to see Clift and Joan Whiteman. They took a recent trip across Florida to take a look at Naples. Clift says, “It’s alright.” But he still prefers Vero Beach.


In a last-minute e-mail Leo Appel, whose four daughters chose not to apply to Dartmouth, joyfully announces that his granddaughter Kayla McFarland of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is entering the class of 2016.


Finally, I am sad to report the deaths of Curt Kimball on April 19, 2009; Dick Udall on August 13, 2011; and Pete Bucklin on June 16. On behalf of myself and of the class, sympathies to their families and friends.


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