It is winter in northern California as I write this, but probably spring when you read it. El Nino is supposedly coming and will no doubt alleviate, but not eliminate, the drought conditions we suffer here. With the advancing seasons I reflect on the fact that we have all moved on in years, but some of us actually have adult jobs and are recognized periodically for doing them very well.

Rick Waddell is one such adult. I am sure that many of you know he is chairman and chief executive of the Northern Trust Co. in Chicago. On November 3 at the Chicago Hilton Rick received the Daniel H. Burnham Award for Distinguished Leadership. In the words of that organization: “Rick Waddell embodies everything the chamber looks for in a Burnham Award honoree. His commitment to philanthropy, volunteerism and corporate social responsibility and his support of Chicago’s many diverse communities truly represents Daniel Burnham’s ‘make no little plans’ vision.” Congratulations, Rick! Well done.

In the fall Eliza and I traveled back to our childhood home of Stonington, Connecticut, to attend the wedding of Peter Castle’s daughter, Rebecca, to Richard Casey. Pete and Deb held a great outdoor affair at the Stonington Vineyards. A couple of our fraternity brothers from prior years, Tom Pratt ’72 and Jim Addis ’72, were also in attendance with their spouses. Thankfully, Deb is an amazing hostess and organizer. If it had been left to Pete, a long-time friend and freshman and sophomore roommate, we would have been having brats on the grill in the back yard, no doubt.

And if I am not mistaken, I believe that Bill Cahill’sdaughter, Meaghan, was married this last fall as well. In amongst Bill’s Facebook rants regarding the Patriots, skiing and the 2016 election, I think I spotted a couple of pictures of father and daughter cutting a rug on the dance floor.

Along with these personal milestones, Eliza and I are picking up stakes and moving yet again. By the time these notes hit the newsstand we should be settling in to our new home in Galveston, Texas. I will look forward to engaging with the Houston-based classmates and other related Dartmouth pals, such as Jeff Barndt and John Elsenhans ’74. I may even be able to reconnect with my long lost frat brother Rob McKenney. If you find yourself on the Gulf Coast, please look us up.

—Stephen D. Gray, 3627 Avenue M, Galveston, TX 77550; (650) 302-8739; fratergray@gmail.com