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1959

Carolyn Brown Straker
Momstraker@aol.com

To celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary and his 65th birthday, husband Norm and I traveled for three weeks from Singapore to Hong Kong, with visits to Vietnam, Bangkok, Cambodia, and Canton. It was the longest trip we’ve taken since our honeymoon. Norm feels more confident leaving his patients, now that our son is in the office and can cover for him. I have begun writing a book about nannies and also enrolled in a stand-up comedy class, which was fun. The last class was at a NYC comedy club, where each of us (seven in the class) performed onstage. Move over, Sandy Bendfeldt! I have the bug and can’t wait to do it again. Sandy recently appeared in a showcase called Rachael, playing the role of the lead actor’s sister. Sandy loves having two grandchildren living nearby.

Jean Lockwood Davidge too is “hooked on the stage.” An opera singer, she’ll make her debut in Binghamton, NY, in May in La Traviata. In February she was in four performances of The Magic Flute, including one on her 70th birthday. In addition, Jean reports that she recently became a grandmother for the first time, and the entire family was together for Thanksgiving.

Jo Ellen Steinfeld Snowman is enjoying her semi-retirement from full-time teaching. But she’s still plenty busy, supervising student teachers, playing duplicate bridge, running a boutique business, and spending time with family.

Jane Haddad Evans and husband Bob spent three weeks in Africa. They enjoyed two different safari camps in the bush as well as a relaxing spa outside Johannesburg. They met people from all over the world and learned about African art, history, politics, animals, and people.

Gay Lawrence Woods writes from Milton, MA, that she and her husband left New Jersey after 44 years. They now have a condo on the Neponset River. They are close to family and do lots of baby-sitting.

I heard from Lynn Scharninghausen Taylor, who reminded me of a summer student tour we were part of in Europe in 1958. Wow!

Linda Eisenberg Hardy accompanied her oldest granddaughter as she started her first year of college at MIT. Says Linda, “It was fun to help her fix up her room!”

Evie Schabel Rosencrantz and her two daughters and their families plan to convene in NYC for Howie’s 70th birthday celebration.

In NYC Barbara Effron and I attended a lecture on China, then went for dinner and had lots of fun catching up.

Cynthia Green Kohl enjoyed a Glen Ridge High School 50th reunion and followed it with visits to friends and relatives. Also at the reunion were Carol Baecht Kennedy, Marsh Johnson Bancroft, and Sally Werntz Moody Davies. Cynthia says, “Naples took a licking with Hurricane Wilma. I was lucky, with little or no damage; but those living close to the Gulf suffered flooding and water damage and power outages.” She invites classmates in the Naples area to contact her so they can plan a luncheon.

Priscilla Wilder Ambrose also reports hurricane news: Her daughter and family have lived in New Orleans for 15 years. They evacuated before Katrina’s landfall, stayed in Maine with Priscilla, and returned home in November. Priscilla writes, “Our daughter is a tenured professor at Xavier University, which was badly damaged, but has been laid off. Her husband is the owner of Stephen Ambrose Historic Tours and is working hard to put that together again. There is much work ahead of them, but they are determined to rebuild their lives and their city.”

Bev Sanders Payne and husband had a wonderful trip to South America and hiked for over a week in Patagonia.

From France, I heard from Anne-Marie Detourbet Phillippe, who reports that the highlight of 2005 was a journey to Egypt last spring. She enjoyed a cruise on the Nile and seeing the pyramids. Daughter Christine, 38, has resumed studies to become an elementary-school teacher. She has a PhD in geology, but has found no vacancies as a university teacher. Anne-Marie sends her love to classmates and appreciates the class Web site and pictures.