It’s early winter on the top of Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire. A blizzard has just begun and nightfall is fast approaching. David Lampert, Sandy Tierney, Blake Winchell and Ihave just strapped on our snowshoes and together with our wives have headed up the Allen Brook Trail, having just finished a 25-mile bike trip from the Warren, New Hampshire, exit on Route 93. The light from our headlamps reflects off the falling snow and the wind is howling. Sandy stops to put a new layer of wool on his head (he’s nearly bald now) and David has a distinct advantage ducking in and out of the trees since he’s only 5 feet tall. We’re singing our favorite Dartmouth songs as we make easy work of the steep hike in front of us. After the hike we’ll be headed to the Connecticut River for a two-mile swim before jogging home. If it sounds like fiction, that’s because it is. The mailbag is empty this month, so unless I get new updates before the next column is due, I’m going to have to put my M.F.A. in writing to work.


By the time you read this, winter will be in full effect and Christmas lights will be lining the Dartmouth Green. With the election over, virtually all of our kids at college or soon to be, time to pick up a pen or send an e-mail with news. 


Nancy and I send our best wishes for a great new year. Do keep in touch.


—Jim Bildner, 5 Boardman Ave., Manchester, MA 01944; (617) 495-6513; jim_bildner@harvard.edu