This week I received a postcard from Sue and Alan Hutchinson. They were out west spending time between Taos, N.M. and Durango, Colo. What a precipitous cliff that little train runs on. She said that it would take them to Cascade Canyon. Previous to the train ride they had enjoyed a seven-mile hike down to and along the Rio Grande River, starting near Taos.

A week ago Edgar called to say that he thought he had seen Dot Abbott on TV, demonstrating her Lifeline button. I've not been out to confirm the sighting. This morning he called with the news that the private float docks were in place in the water. That is a sure sign that the season isn't too far off.

A phone call from Eleanor Morrell, who was bubbling over with the news that she and Dick had become great-grandparents. Jessie Polackwich and husband Doug Erickson produced a girl, Anna Morrell Erickson on March 2nd. That little girl greeted the world in Richmond, Va. Jessie has taken a leave from her job for three months. Of course this makes Deb and Alan grandparents. They seem much too young for this status. Last November all the girls in the family, as Eleanor calls them, went to Vero Beach for a baby shower for Jessie. Included were Sandy Rooney, Betsy Morrell, Isadore Osgood, and Alysse Morrell. Of course this group required a chaperone and Dick took up the task. An enjoyable weekend but no rooms to be had so all stayed at Deb and Alan's. Eleanor said that hurricane destruction was very evident and there is still a tarp over a portion of the Polackwich roof. The reason for lack of rooms is the influx of workers repairing damage.

From Muffie Fernald this tidbit. The weekend of March 12 all the Fernald girls, that's Muff, Robin who had business in Boston (how convenient), Betsy, up from Maryland, Margoe and Sam went to the New England Flower Show leaving Portland at 5 a.m. so as to make the members early hours that start at 7 a.m. This is an annual conclave. that same weekend was the Portland Flower Show and Muff and David worked at the Master Gardeners Auction which is held at the end of the show. They had a nice chat with Nan Bogart, who with a partner had a booth displaying a canvas swing/hammock with good choices of fabric, as Muffie says. This is all news to me, proving that mother-in-laws don't know everything. Nan said they got the idea from the porch swing at the Corner Cottage.

Peggy Aker said in an e-mail that they had very much enjoyed hosting Rob Ayer over the Easter weekend. June Sturgis has started her chemotherapy, and the second dose went better than the first. Here's hoping things keep improving for her. Peg and Greg's daughter, Elizabeth, played on her church's basketball team and they won the championship in an overtime game. Brother Brooks said it was the most painful game he had ever watched. He himself is on a traveling basketball team and had to give up soccer to do it. No slouch in the academics department, he has been invited to join the National Junior Honor Society, with his inductment on April 4th. Way to go Brooks. Tom Sturgis' son Chris has been accepted at North Carolina State and is flying high.

One last bit. From Susan Reece came the news that she and Rob receive the AMC (American Mountain Club?) Connection publication. That included an article about the first President's Society Winter "Olympics'' at AMC. Two islanders showed up prominently in photos. Art Pierce received the "Most Generous'' award for giving his pole to a member of the other team, and Deb Pierce won the Silver Medal for the Master's downhill challenge. Nice way to end the ski season.