Class Notes

I’m getting fewer and fewer responses as the years go by, but I’m grateful for what I get. Thank you to those hardy souls who continue to contribute.

I’ve been corresponding with Ann Dunaway Criswell, who found a couple of copies of Dr. Alvey’s History of Mary Washington College, 1908-1972 at an estate sale and asked if I’d like one. I told her I would and had fun reading it and skipping between years. Ann’s mother graduated in 1919, when it was Fredericksburg State Normal School. Ann said the big changes started about 10 years ago. It’s morphed into UMW, and nothing stays the same except our memories. However, I agree with her that it will always be MWC for all of us. Ann and her husband spend late spring and summer in Virginia, and fall and winter in California. She’s still looking for lost classmates Frances Smith, Pat Steadham, and Nancy Nye.

Nancy Shope Armbruster and Joe of Santa Fe, N.M., traveled to Scandinavia last spring. They spent a few days in Helsinki, Finland, learing about the Finns and eating seafood; traveled through beautiful forests to the northernmost part of Finland; visited the Sami tribes; and saw and sometimes ate reindeer. In the far north, they boarded a mail boat, traveling along Norway’s west coast. The mountains were still capped with snow in May, and ice-filled glaciers streaked their sides. They got off the ship in the southernmost part of Norway and traveled by bus, listening to Grieg’s music, to Oslo through gorgeous mountains with stunning lakes and tunnels to accommodate travel. Nancy said it might have been the most beautiful journey she’s experienced, that we live in a wonderful world, and that it’s sad we can’t take better care of it.

Chris and Charlotte Fisher Klapproth spent 10 days in November on their favorite island, Curacao, rented a car, and visited places they hadn’t yet seen. Charlotte said the Caribbean island is full of roundabouts and bumpy roads, with no street signs, and that the natives are warm and helpful. The heat reminded her of Delaware summers but with a constant breeze. They found and spent time with the girls who’d made their previous trips fun. Charlotte said it was probably their last trip because of difficult travel, especially dealing with the Miami airport from an international standpoint.

Patricia Seibert Siegel and her husband sold their house in Torrance, Calif., and were moving to San Diego County, near their daughter and family. Sally Hanger Moravitz’s son, Brian, retired from the fire department. He was an EMS with 24-hour shifts and one of the responders to the Pentagon on 9/11. Sally had a cataract removed and said she could now see all her wrinkles and her dirty house.

I planned a January hip replacement and hope it helps my attitude because I’m not a lot of fun to be around right now. On the bright side, I can park anywhere with my handy, dandy handicap sign. When Neil drives me to work and lets me out, a couple of cars are usually waiting and honking. I get out very slowly and pathetically limp and drag my leg while looking straight at them and smiling. Golly, I do love being old and obnoxious!