HELLO '68! Happy New Year! Looking at today's national weather map, the Dark Ages are definitely back in play with frigid temperatures, lots of snow, and travel nightmares at our airports. No global-warming protesters seen marching in D.C. right now.

"Band of Brothers. From L to R: Weldon Groves, Maurice Ecung, Frank Moore, and Tony Marshall."

CLASSMATE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2023: Maurice Ecung writes that in addition to spending quality time with classmates, he was able to link-up with his de-facto USAFA sponsor-family, Leroy and Hazel Jones, after 55 years. Frank Moore moved to Santa Fe and was honored as a two-time Wing Open Boxing Champion at the 2023 USAFA Championship in March. Beside attending our 55th, Tony Marshall stayed busy as a member of three non-profits: The Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, California President of the Shades of Blue, and Aviation Director for the Millionaire Mind Kids. Bill Radasky celebrated two years in Eagle, Idaho after living decades in San Diego with visits to London for business and Maui for vacation (before the fire). Dick and Sherry Fast traveled to Mallorca and Barcelona in March and vacationed with Steve and Judi McPhail in Gaiole, Italy in May. Jack and Susan (a.k.a., Fred) Webb kept up their wandering ways from their homebase in Tucson to Alaska and several spots in Europe. Jack has started soaring, again, with the local Tucson glider club. Doug and Dee Wilson write that they "still live in Castle Rock with ZERO '8-5 jobs.' We worked a combined total of 90 years to get to be retired, do other things, or do nothing." Bill and Katie Wood celebrated their 55th Anniversary in St. George, Utah in July (temperature 110 degrees) with the entire 18-member, three generation family sharing one house. In addition to chairing our 55th reunion, Gary and Mary Hoffman managed to get in some vacation time in Estes Park in January, Santa Fe in February, Kauai in March, and France in June. Gene and Jan Rose hit the road with trips to Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, South Dakota, Amsterdam, Berlin, Bremen, Luxembourg, Bastogne, Brussels, and Bruges. Mike and Debby Navarro finally got in their Covid-delayed trip to France. In December, Steve and Connie Staley and daughters Shannon and Stephanie, traveled to Nuremberg following a Christmas markets cruise up the Danube from Budapest to Prague.                                    

"Bill Bowman and Alice DiFraia"

'68ER AND NEW BEGINNINGS: Employing the power of the internet, our classmate, Bill Bowman, and Alice DiFraia met online in July 2019 and were married at the Garden of the Gods on 14 September 2021. They now live in Castle Pines and spend half the year "wintering" in the Tucson area. Between them, they have 15 grandchildren. To Bill and Alice, A belated congratulations!

"Skip and Veronica Pardee"

A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER: In Skip's own words: "On June 1st, 1976, I resigned from the Air Force after eight years as an Air Force pilot. The following spring of 1977, I was living in a one-bedroom apartment in Southern California, 30 years old, unemployed, unmarried, and recently broken up with my girlfriend. During this period, I met a 30-year-old woman who, for all practical purposes, was homeless and did not speak English. In her dictator-run country she was involved in anti-government activities and became a wanted person. She fled to the United States and ended up in Southern California, not knowing a soul.

I started teaching her English and showing her around. She was brilliant! Eventually, I provided her a place to live in my apartment, where she slept on the couch. There was never a romantic involvement.

About a week after meeting this woman, I met Veronica and we started dating. Three weeks later, we decided to get married. The situation of me at 30, Veronica at 22, and a third woman living in the apartment did not sit well with Veronica's staunch Catholic family. It never bothered Veronica.

Veronica and I worked to help her legally immigrate. After the wedding we found her a place to live, and she found work. She eventually became a U.S. citizen. During the almost 9 months that she lived with me, and then Veronica, we never charged her any money, not even for food. Our last contact with her was over 30 years ago.

Now 77 years old, through years of hard work, she is a multi-millionaire. We re-established contact and she said, "I owe you my life."

On Thursday, December 21st, Veronica and I received a Christmas card containing four checks. One each for Veronica, my son, my daughter, and me. The sum total of the checks was $40,000, all tax free, and all because of a simple act of kindness over 45 years ago.

What goes around comes around. It was a good Christmas at the Pardee household.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS: We were saddened by loss of Bob Lutter's wife, Martha (Marty) on 2 October in Chesterfield, Missouri. Please keep Bob and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

THAT'S A WRAP: Mind the flak; keep 'em flying, and keep those cards, letters, e-mails, and photos coming in to Pat Russell and me. Reunion photos and news are most welcome! Ciao for now. Tim