I sit here in temporarily rain-relieved California, lamenting my unwillingness to take the bike out on the sloppy roads, but thinking how fortunate I am to avoid the Nor’easters in Hanover. As we were speaking of bikes, Rich Clark and I have become followers of each other on Strava. Rich is an avid cyclist and has been hammering the hills around Pasadena. The guy has put nearly 11,000 kilometers on his frame this year. He and I keep planning to connect for a ride out here, which we will do; but I fear I will be eating his dust. By the way, for those unaware of Strava, it is a very robust fitness app and social media connection for nuts like us, and it has roots with Dartmouth.


I was able to stalk Tom Denison on social media as well, discovering that he and wife Jean are truly “Disney-fied” grandparents. It has been years since we “pal”-ed around with them, briefly, in Chicago. They recently took their grandsons to Orlando, Florida, for a true family vacation. I am jealous, because we are cultish followers of the Mick. 


We also recently heard from David Rettig, who sent the following note: “Glad to connect with other ’75s. I have been living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, since leaving Hanover. I didn’t become the next Picasso, but I have spent the last 39 years immersed in art as a gallerist and curator—lots of business with museums and travel across the United States, Mexico and Europe. I haven’t made reunions, but I’ve been back to Hanover a number of times related to artist’s residencies and Hood Museum exhibitions—and currently have an exhibition by Allan Houser at the Hood Museum. I’ve been working with this estate for 19 years.” When in Santa Fe, please drop by to see Dave and the wonderful works he handles.


As long as we are on the arts, Paul Parsons has morphed into a novelist. I recently ordered a set of his books for my wife for Christmas and I am looking forward to reading them as well. The story is an adventure series built around the mysterious Baden-Powell beads, which seem to have some mystical powers. Paul tells me, “After reading the biography of Lord Baden-Powell the spark of a story was born, and four years later I had four completed novels, which is what it took to tell the whole history-based yarn. (Maybe not Paradise Lost, but a lot more fun.) After lots of rewrites I published all four and am presently in talks with Universal and later this month, another film-making contact. Wish me luck! I write because it’s more fun than reading, and I love to read.” So, go buy a classmate’s novel!


Finally, yet another reminder to join us on Facebook—“Dartmouth College Class of 1975.” You can find a copy of the freshman yearbook there, courtesy of Ed Spinney. Not a novel, but highly entertaining!


—Steve Gray, P.O. Box 296, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019; (650) 392.8739; stephendgray@gmail.com