I received a nice long letter from Bill Loyer back in December with lots of interesting information worth sharing. Bill wrote, “It has been two years since my dear wife, Carol, departed and I am still making adjustments. I miss her so but keep busy with many new activities. This includes monthly Dartmouth class luncheons in Denver, interviewing for Dartmouth, my investment club, taking the family to see the Ringling Brothers Circus and learning how to play bridge after all these years. I also was inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution at a ceremony and luncheon at the Wyoming governor’s mansion. Also, the Masonic Lodge recognized me with a ceremony marking 50 years as a Mason.” Bill updated me with an email in April reporting the results of his interviewing for Dartmouth. He interviewed seven applicants and the two who were early decision, as well as exceptional students, were accepted. The others, although also being exceptional students, did not make it. Bill points out that, “The bar is awfully high for acceptance these days, especially if the applicant does not declare early acceptance.”

Hark! I hear the Barbary Coast Jazz band playing “When the Saints Go Marching In” as they proceed up Main Street and around the Green. Four of our newly departed classmates march directly behind the band, and we bow our heads in solemn tribute to James Douglas Craig II, Carl Frederick Hilker Jr., Arnold B. Levin and Charles C. Ray.

On a happier note, the time is fast approaching when many of us who remain will meet upon the Hanover Plain once again to renew old friendships and make some new ones.

From “The Essence of Friendship”—one of my earliest poetic limericks, written back in 1996:

All my friends have a very fine brain,

So conversing is seldom inane;

Not boring, not ever,

They’re funny or clever,

A treat when they’re slightly insane

I look forward to conversing with old friends and new at the upcoming 60th reunion.

—Joel D. Ash, P.O. Box 1733, Grantham, NH 03753; (603) 863-3360; jash_125@comcast.net