Dear ’72s, Happy New Year! By the time you read this, we will have celebrated a mini-reunion in Naples, Florida, on February 23-26.

Jack Anderson wrote that his second novel, Friedegund and Brunhilde, has been accepted for publication. Give a rouse for Jack, who explains that the book is historical fiction that concerns two queens in sixth-century France who develop a rivalry that ripens into an all-out feud and then a 40-year war known as the “Royal Feud.” Jack goes on to say that the two queens are historical people but, since very few verified facts remain about them, Jack has invented a back story that speculates about their personalities and psychological development. The names of the two queens appear to be more German than French, but the border between Germany and France has shifted through the years and certain ruling families have transcended national boundaries.

Give a rouse to our former class president, Bill Price, who has authored tomes thrice. Bill’s third book, with an Aussie coauthor, The Frictionless Organization, was named the No. 1 business book for 2022 by Forbes. The title of the book could apply to families, much less organizations. Bill’s latest book joins The Best Service is No Service and Your Customer Rules. Another Bill, Walter “Bill” Weston, spends summers at his home in Switzerland but migrates to the Pelican Landing Community of Bonita Springs, Florida, from October until early December. Bill then returns to Switzerland, where he celebrates Christmas with his daughter, Kay ’01, and his son-in-law, Greg ’98, who live in Zurich with his granddaughters, Fiona and Franziska. After Christmas Bill goes to their ski home in Garmisch in beautiful Bavaria, Germany, where he skis until the snow gets slushy and then returns to Bonita. I hope Bill’s Bonita home withstood Hurricane Ian. It’s nice to have choices about living arrangements. ’Round the girdled earth they roam.

—Shel Prentice, 2311 Tradition Way, #102, Naples, FL 34105; shelprentice72@gmail.com