First, this flash from classmate Dona Heller: “Who can forget her sharp and misty mornings? Not us, and now it’s carpe diem time: If not now, when? It’s time to sign up for our 55th reunion June 10-13. Don’t put it off. Email our past president and current registration chair, Dudley Kay, dudkay69@gmail.com. Tell him that you will be there. Then email or call your old roommates, frat brothers, teammates, lab partners, fellow DCR or ‘D’ guys, and other ’69 friends to join you. We are not getting any younger. We all had a great time at our 50th. The 55th will be more than good times. We are making memories. We have a lot planned: events at the DOC House and Bema; tours of refurbished Dartmouth Hall and the new, high-tech West End complex; discussions on artificial intelligence, Vietnam experiences and conscientious objector experiences, constitutional law issues, quality time with the College’s new president, Sian Beilock; an evening of classic ’60s rock dancing; a poignant memorial service to honor departed classmates; and generous time for sitting around with old friends and new ones. Contact reunion co-chairs Norman Jacobs (njacobs@spiritproducts.com) or Dona Heller (donaheller@gmail.com) right away with questions or special requests. If cost is an issue for you, please contact Rick Willetts (rgwillets@comcast.net). Scholarship money is available. Rick handles every request in confidence. Please plan to join us!”

Second, this update: John Frondorf sent his Vietnam reflection that missed the deadline for the ’69 Times Vietnam issue. Watch for the full essay in the next Times issue. John remembers Vietnam “with a mixture of pride and sadness,” like most of us. “I was Mr. Roberts,” he writes. “Obviously lucky, no Purple Heart, no complicated moral issues, no friends nor crew lost. The Vietnamese I worked with were honest, foolish, hardworking, political, combative, fearful, in other words, like any other group of people. Never particularly gung-ho in a personal way, I did not question my country’s call to duty, and I especially wanted to put myself in harm’s way, to walk the walk. I understand illegal orders and the moral duty not to follow them, but when your country calls to you, I am not quite sure how the individual can say no, apart from conscientious objection.”

In closing, the vast Class Notes staff thanks you for the honor of staying in touch in these columns since the last reunion. If you’re a slow starter like Tex, upping your class engagement late, plan to invest time and energy with us going forward. You will be rewarded in more ways than you might imagine and your time with us will be a gift to many others. We will see you in June. If you have been busy and disconnected, this is the time to come home. If not now, when?

—John “Tex” Talmadge, 3519 Brookline Lane, Farmers Branch, TX 75234; (214) 673-9250; johntalmadgemd@gmail.com