I once compiled some of the
opening and closing paragraphs of a few of Armand's Christmas letters to give you an idea of his sense of humor. His 1969 letter which follows, hints at the number of trips and projects that were compacted into a mere twelve months of his life:
Been the usual busy year. Armand and daughter Ann drove out to West Coast in May, returning in early June, visiting national parks, friends, and relatives. Good snow climbs in Rocky Mt., Yosemite, and Grand Tetons National Parks, and a hot one in Zion. Canyonlands, a new park, is spectacular. The big trees are awesomely beautiful as ever, but (to end on a note of sadness) a storm has blown down the Wawona tunnel tree in Yosemite.
Armand then took a Humanities tour group to Europe. Very exclusive: just five signed up, but it was like a family and great fun. Included a week in Greece, where he saw Delphi and Olympia for the first time. He and Mary had planned several weeks in England at the end of the first half of the tour, when he left the group in the hands of another leader, but had to take a rain check until this coming summer. Another European trip planned for May 18 to June 29, but the family get-together will be after then.
At home, nothing much to chronicle. We set out a big batch of twelve to fifteen foot evergreens beside our house in an effort to create our own little national forest. We may stock it with deer and bear, if only to be neighborly.
Mary continues the hopeless task of making future Dickenses out of semi-illiterate freshman composition students, earning their undying enmity along the way, but, she hopes, the gratitude of the English Department.
Ann is coming along swimmingly as a Political Science major about half way through her career at West Va. Univ. She's even taking a swimming course.
Armand has written some travel articles, compiled a long supplement to his Don Juan bibliography, done some book reviews, and edited a new volume of the West Va. Univ. Philological Papers. The basic Humanities course is being revamped, and out-of-state language meetings, talks, committees, use up their share of vanishing leisure.
As of this writing, we are all well, including the black poodle monster, Noiraud, who has just raised a ruckus on hearing the arrival of the morning mail. And he should. More unanswered Christmas cards.
Our warmest seasonal greetings.
Image: Ahoy - Mac's Web Log