Sudy Taylor Graham
33760 County Road 43A
Steamboat Springs, CO 80487-9783
sudytgraham@gmail.com
970-846-4789
facebook.com/groups/UMaineClass1970/
Well, a cheery hello to all (I say “cheery” because as I write this, the snow is finally beginning to go here in Steamboat — and, yes, I should be used to this by now!). Hopefully, this will find you all doing well. I’m not quite sure why COVID is reducing the amount of news we are receiving, but it is. Let’s hope that the next column will be more exciting!
Stephen King’s Hon. ’87 L.H.D. new novel, Later, has been published for all to read. Later is the third book in the Hard Case Crime series. Briefly, the novel is about Jamie Conklin, raised by a single mother, looking back on his childhood. This is no ordinary kid (does that come as a surprise to any of us?!) — Jamie is able to see and communicate with the dead. In fact, they are compelled to tell the truth when Jamie asks a question. Now throw a dirty cop into the mix and out pops a riveting novel!
We recently lost a very special classmate, George Smith, after a four-year battle with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). This is someone who I wish I had had the honor to meet. Some of you might remember George as executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine — others of you for his weekly editorials and travel columns in the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. I’d like to add this quote by Governor Janet Mills: “An avid sportsman, a prolific writer, and a good-natured friend to all, George Smith was the very embodiment of the character of Maine: strong but kind, independent but compassionate, wise but humble.”
I received a note from John McGrail, who wished to let our engineering classmates know of the passing of Dr. Dick Nightingale ’58, ’60G, a structural engineering professor “that all of us 1970 engineering grads had for several classes and who was admired by us all.” John’s email included two great memories — the professor’s sense of humor and how he never let a "teaching moment" slip by unnoticed. Throughout his 40-year career as an engineer, John writes how one of the professor’s lessons would pop into his mind and “give him a hand!” And, John — I'm glad you didn’t find your name on the list (LOL) — and I’m glad to know that I have someone keeping me informed!
Well, that’s all for this column. My new motto has become “Just breathe” — so I pass that on to all of you! (I can hear my youngest groan and say, “Really, Mum?”) What can I say?!