Perspective, Fall 2011 - University Liggett School

Liggett Class Secretary:
Mrs. Lois E. Hutchison
(Lois Dickinson)
135 Cochise Drive
Sedona, AZ 86351-7928
hutchlovl@earthlink.net
Wendy Martin Blair writes: “I just
got back from a wonderful trip to
Germany and Austria (also went briefly
to Switzerland and Lichtenstein) with my
son, Adam. Pictures and descriptions are
on my Caringbridge website page if you
want to follow along. I am slowly ridding
myself of jet-lag in these last few days at
home. It’s hugely hot here (my first
summer in Scottsdale) though I see on the
news that the heat wave is affecting
everyone. I am enjoying an (unusual) few
days by myself as John is off prospecting
in northern California. He’s been pretty
successful at finding gold nuggets. With
gold prices rising, can’t hurt! That’s it for
now. (And Mazel Tov to me for getting
through a whole blurb without any
mention of illness or treatment!)”
Martha Robbins Friedricks-Glass
reports: “One of the highlights last winter
was spending a weekend with Alison
Lewis Friedman and Wendy Martin Blair
in Arizona. Wendy has retained her sense
of humor, good cheer and her good looks.
We are praying for her. Wendy and John
took us up to Prescott to their wonderful
home there; and we also spent a night at
their terrific little home in Scottsdale with
the happy grapefruit and orange trees in
the back yard. What a nice change from
crazy New York. I am still dividing my
time between my daughter, son-in-law
and two grandchildren (6 and 8 ½) in
Nashville and my almost-99 year old
mother who lives near Boston. They say
that at our age we are the meat in the
sandwich; and I feel that way quite often.
My husband and I finally moved into our
new apartment. We’re almost finished
unpacking boxes and are becoming
comfortable in our new ‘hood. Love being
across the street from Central Park.
“Despite the rise and fall of the stock
market, the real estate business in New
York is thriving. I have been working
much too hard (for my age!) but managed
to slip in a wonderful one week vacation
with my kids in beautiful Rosemary
Diane Finkel Hubert in Honfleur, France.
Diane Finkel Hubert and husband Jim at the
Musee l’Orangerie in France.
Beach, Fla. We celebrated my husband’s
80th, my 70th, my daughter’s 40th and
— most important — my son-in-law’s
recovery from non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
Best to everyone.”
Martha Sanford writes: “I have two trips
planned in September. One to Seattle to
visit grandson — great fun — and the
other to Cape Cod. My brother David and
Anne have a home there. We play in the
bay and the ocean. The tourists will be
gone by the time I get there which makes
it peaceful. Be Well, Martha
Sue Kreis Champine reports: “Don’t
really have much news. Health wise,
I’m doing great. I’m done with the chemo
that’s tough on your body and only have
four more treatments of what I call the
good chemo as it doesn’t seem to have
any side effects. I’ll be done with that by
the end of October. I also have stated
taking a pill (Arimidex) that I’ll take for
five years. Enough about my health issues.
“Haven’t been able to do much out on the
lake. First we had tons of rain and the lake
level rose 30 feet above pool so there were
all kinds of stuff floating and also it was
hard to get to our dock. Then the heat and
drought really hit us. At least we’re out of
the 100’s today but it’s still hot and humid
and it seems like we have pop up storms
every day in the late afternoon.
“We were in Lakeland, Fla., a couple
weeks ago to visit my sister. Gordon (her
husband) has lung cancer and is now in
hospice. He was doing somewhat better
while we were there but is going downhill
fast. Wish we could be there to be of more
help. They were really smart to move
when they did to be closer to David —
his wife has been a big help to Sandy.
“Just a ‘hi’ to everyone and thanks to
Linda for her call and support. Cheers
also, Susie.”
Diane Finkel Hubert writes: “Hi ladies!
We are on our sail boat for the next two
weeks. It takes the better part of a day just
to get out of Grand Traverse Bay into Lake
Michigan. We hope to get to Beaver Island
by nightfall. Tomorrow we will head for
the North Channel — that body of water
east of Lake Superior and the northern
part of Lake Huron in Canada. Lots of
unpopulated pristine islands.
Last week was the Traverse City Film
Festival (founded by Michael Moore
seven years ago). My son, Mark, and his
family were here for two weeks as he
works as a rigger for the festival. It has
been an economic boon for Traverse
City as it brings thousands of intelligent
cinema enthusiasts who also enjoy great
food, wine and shopping! It is a wonderful
week, people everywhere, on foot or
riding the shuttle between the seven
venues, great films from around the
world and lots of directors and producers
present for Q and A’s or panel discussions
on their films. If you’re looking for a great
vacation next summer check it out.
The last week of April and the first week
of May, Richard and I went on a river trip
on the Seine from Paris to Le Harve and
back to Paris. It was a great way to see a
region of a country and Normandy is
amazingly beautiful. Giverny, Monet’s
40 Class notes fall/winter 11