Is normal near? We can’t say for sure, but several are making more normal noises. David Marr checked in from Australia, where he has been for a good long time. He is an emeritus professor at the Australian National University in Canberra with expertise in Asian history. He also reported that Canberra had a run of five months without a single Covid case. He continues research on the modern history of Vietnam, perhaps drawn to it by his experience as a Marine following NROTC and graduation from Dartmouth. David has published many articles and books on his thoughts and findings. And from Maine Goody Gilman chimed in, reminding me that all three of their children are Dartmouth graduates. Anchored in Maine, he has a home in Quechee, Vermont, to feed his need for Dartmouth football games. It has been a tough year with near fan-less football. There was only one car in the Thompson parking lot for the Dartmouth-Yale game. Rick Luedke tries to steer the Wisconsin senior alum group around the pitfalls of proximity. Phil Marden, Al Brown, and John Hessler are all part of that band of merry snow shovelers. Collectively, they maintain phone connectivity with Peter Strock and Jim Mueller. Bob Filderman and Charlie MacVean managed to find one of the few restaurants in San Diego that Fildy had never been to, so they enjoyed the pasta and the time together. Send me your good stuff.

—Charlie MacVean, 3528 Liggett Drive, San Diego, CA 92106-2153; (619) 508-4401; crmacvean@msn.com