April 30: Sarah, Lori Zollinger, & Joan Hinkes
5/26: Early arrival of Socorro crew (KJ+CAJL), after 3-day (!) trip (600, 600, and 740 miles). Notes of the times: Nobody drives 55. Average gas cost ~ $0.60 per gal.
5/28: Sarah graduated from Choate-Rosemary Hall. Lovely ceremony—Helen Hayes speaks. Sarah wins the Yale Prize for “personal character and intellectual promise”! Also cum laude with honors in four areas. Paul, Nancy, Karin, Oma, John, Nate, Christine, John, Donna, Leslie on hand.
5/31: John Bunzli arrives. To fish.
6/1: Ken, Joanne, Adam, Jason, Lucas are off for Boston (!) and Nina’s graduation. Caroline stays behind an extra day with John B.
6/3: Nina graduates from Concord Academy—lovely! Ted Sorenson speaks, witty and wise. Gramma and Pop Pop, along with Caroline, Paul, and Peter T. and all the family cheering. Nina captivated the audience with a starring role in senior musical. Good bye C.A.!
6/3: A “purple party” for Nina—given by Kolms in W.M.
6/5: Ken goes back to New Mexico for a long (!) summer.
6/9: J., J. L. A. and Nina return. (to Shunk) Nina Tannenwald – class of ’77!!!!!!!!!!!
7/4 – 7/5: We – Venkatesh, Ramadas and Vijaya came to visit Mommy (Mrs. Ford) and the family on our way to Rochester from Washington. We have rented a car and brought most of our things which we had left in Vijaya’s aunt’s house in New York. We are having a fantastic time enjoying with Mommy, Nina and others. Mommy and Nina saw some of our things brought from India with interest. Vijaya and Ramadas also became the members of the family here and they say that they are also finding a mother in Mrs. Ford as Venkatesh does. We ate water-melon and ice cream given by Mommy and Nina and we also ate the rice brought from Washington. We never expected that we would come across such a beautiful place and a nice family. We are feeling that ours was a very short stay. We would like to come again to enjoy the place and the company of the good people. Yeah! This is one of the most enjoyable days we ever had. We would like to bring everybody from everywhere to show the beautiful spot and our people.
7-5: It is a very nice place indeed. With such a nice friend as Mommy indeed. It is difficult to choose btween people and the place. The vote rather goes to the former very aptly. Who is the very picture goodness’s … . And a very charming host surely.
Aman (Dan)
However nice and beautiful is here life. I would come back n be with you with my wife.
“Let good thoughts come to you (us) from everywhere” – Ancient Oriental benediction.
7-5: Here I am with my wife Vijaya as I had promised last year. Although the stay was just one night, it was the best of my day after I got married to Vijaya. We will be back here to Lake house more often. We may come here for the Labor Day weekend with my brother’s family & friends.
Venkatesh
7/10: Paul and Nancy leave after a brief visit of 5 days (arrived 7/5/77). Shunk marks the final stage of a lot of cross country galavanting for us. We started in Princeton at the end of May and proceeded from one end of the East coast to the other, making stops in: Westport CT, Wallingford CT, Wayland MA, Southport ME, Freeport ME, Portland ME, Wayland MA (again), Bloomington IN, Smoky Mountain National Park, Cassia FL, Shenandoah National Park and finally Shunk. The stay in Shenandoah was meant to be a whole week of backpacking through the whole length of the park, but severely dry conditions made things a little uncomfortable so we decided to drop in up here, where of course it rained almost continuously. Of course once we got here the solitude and serenity of the place caused all of our energetic plans for hiking and exploring to vaporize as we lounged around in a state of intense relaxation. Of course this must of been in anticipation of the weeks of hard work which we face as of tomorrow at Potomac Vegetable Farms. So for another year we bid fond farewell to Shunk and environs.
Ken breezed in for a week in 9576R. I swam across the lake with Jason, also Adam. I canoed, sailed, lazed around, took Dale & Liz Moon flying to Elmira, & enjoyed Dale & Lucy’s 25th.
July 13: Mrs. Raccoon and four youngsters came for dinner.
July 14: Swam across the lake – Jason
7/14: Liz Moon arrived and recuperated from very hot drive with a marvelous relaxing swim. Great fun sailing, canoeing, games (Jason won all my chips in poker), first flight of my life. Many, many thanks!! Left July 17
Aug. 1 (July 31): Birthday celebration for Lucas’ 9th birthday.
8-11,12,13: Thanks for a peaceful place while in transition between time-past and time still aborning … a bridge should… (pun intended!) — the more things change the more … they are the same [E.K.: HELP!] A much needed respite for a weary bridge: two (2) nights of transforming “jellies” and tremulous owl-calls shores up antique abutments … Thanks
Loni
Aug: Arrived at 8:30 P.M. leaving Rochester at 4 with Rajaram (Raj) and Ravi. Enjoyed the campfire with all the cheerful children.
Vijaya and Venkatesh
Dear Joanne & Ken, Thank you for a marvelous time. The signs look wonderful! I took a sandwich, peach, and some ice cubes. Saw a deer in the yard while loading the car. Let’s plan on the Cape next June. I’d love to show you the National Seashore area.
Love, Liz
Special thanks for my first plane ride.
Thanks for a most delightful day and a half, and the many hours of cards and chess, Lee
Someone write on my log : ’77
thanks, Arthur
Thankyou (Love Lisa)
August 13th: Katie Kasoderas
Lawrence and Leona Frey
Frances Ladd
Jim & Marcy Schaefer, Thanks for an enjoyable evening
Ken, Nina, Rich, Caroline, Sarah, Margaret, Cornelia< edna, Lisa, Ravi, Juliet, Rajaram, Paul, Elizabeth, Nancy, Ann, Linda Ladd, Tom Peterman, Henry Kolm, Mary, Jenny, Adam, Jason, Lucas, Dan, Hank Kravatz, Venka & Vijaya (too?!!), Vijaya
Good night it is 12:00 o’clock – Mother & Dad
Aug. 12-14: We (Vijaya, Ravi, Rajaram & Venka) had a very nice weekend here. Made fried rice (8/13) and had a delightful lunch. Everyone liked it—I guess (there was no left over especially after the seconds). We showed the wedding and temple slides (8/13). We are leaving even though we want to stay longer.
Thanks for everything and the most wonderful weekend.
Love Vijaya
Yeah! Ravi Dattatreya (Ravioli!!!)
Rajaram was here, Rajaram tried to dance here, Rajaram generally had fun here. Danke… Rajaram
P.S.: We will be back!!!
SOME DINNER LIMERICKS
There once was a titian-haired sleuth,
Who tried very hard to use couth,
She always would spy,
Though she tended to pry,
But she always discovered the truth!!
–Nancy Drew Fan Club…
Marge, Jule, Nine, Sar
If you need to improve on insight
Henry’s the person all right
The fixtures were up
Before we did sup
And behold there was suddenly light
(Joanne)
There was once a dear friend from Socorro
I feared I would see her no more-o
But I hastened to Shunk
And at Lake Baumunk
I was honored to scrub her stone floor-o
(Elizabeth)
There once was a very old bag
Who really did love to brag
Until one day
Her four daughters ran away
And now she no longer can brag
(Edna)
There was a young lady named Schneider
No one knew what was inside her
When she barfed up her lunch
They all had a hunch
She had sandwich and cookies and cider
(Cornelia)
In a lake, said Ken, be alert
Then you’ll not drown or get hurt
But in case you should sink
Deep into the drink
Best to die in your Brooks Brothers shirt
(Ken)
There once was a lady of Shunk
Whose pants appeared to have shrunk
When there was a flood
They stayed out of the mud
How prepared was the lady of Shunk!
(Caroline)
An addict shot up with a syringe.
His skin it waxed a pale orange.
His eyes in their sockets,
Exploded like rockets.
And his back was bent like a door hinge.
(Paul)
There was an elephant who could sail
All the time he never did fail
But he began to pout
While coming about
“My trunk gets caught in my tail.”
(Jason)
There was once a young man from Socorro,
Who promised to do things tomorrow,
His task was too easy,
His excuse very sleazy,
Much to everyone’s sorrow.
(Nancy)
Grandparents
Grandparents are generous, kind, and sweet
Grandparents are faithful, honest, and true.
Grandparents are a special treat.
As fresh as the morning dew,
As golden as a field of wheat.
I didn’t feel done. Normally, I don’t have enough to say. This is agonizing. It is as if I were saying good-bye for an hour. So the “meany” Fords. Your warmth and caring are beyond words. Your stable secure nature allowed me to enjoy the fun but often bewildering happenings of Shunk (folk dancing, the constant arrival of new people) and endure my own general anxiety of being on my own.
6/26: Joanne and Adam arrived with Pringle (kitten from Kolms) after taking Caroline to Exeter Summer School.
8/4: Nina and Joanne leave to visit Dartmouth
8/6: Caroline, Joanne, Nina, Cornelia, Edna, Lisa, and Elizabeth arrived after getting Caroline from summer school
8/16: TAPIO TALVITIE (AGAIN, SEE 8/14/74) 210 D.P. ROAD, LOS ALAMOS, NUEVO MEXICO 87544
8/1_: Rich. After losing all hope of make it to Shunk, I was dragged to the phone at some ungodly hour, leaving an early morning meeting (at the Kolms, after two hours sleep) a way was found. Why didn’t I come earlier, by … . Perhaps a touch of insanity. The bus trip was a pain in the butt, and I was a total zomby (sp?) for a while, but my spirits were revived by Shunk and its haven of Republicans, Democrats, transients, pillars of the community and most of everything in between. Never again will I breathe the grease filled air of the fast-food joint (cough cough Nina; I don’t know how you survived it). I didn’t realize how much gaity and energy a small town could have. I wish I could have got to know people better. I can’t attempt to talk about the things, events, people in entirety. I will miss Nina. I suspect our friendship will continue only in the form of letters if that…????!! 3000 miles is a long way. If only we had more breakfasts, canoe rides, etc. together. When I am in need of a mother, I will know where to head. I will say the rest in a letter, love Rich
August 16: Nancy & Paul arrived 8/12 via a green squareback identical to the Kolm’s. Picked up Ken & Sarah @ Williams—part who had just arrived via airplane. Shunk was quiet (?) and restful as usual, even with 25 people swarming around. We had many late night games of poker, Scrabble, Murder in the dark (eek!) Boggle… midnight swims. Much good food including homemade applesauce, Indian rice, chicken Bar-B-Q. Picnic to Hoagland Branch was great. I especially appreciated seeing the backcountry and old farms. regret that I didn’t get to visit Ebey’s and do more hiking. Got to hit the loyalsock next year! Well, it’s the last night here and tomorrow I must face the outside world… sigh. Until next year, (?) thanks to everyone for a delightful stay.
Nancy McKinley
I wish Arthur (sp?) had stayed longer. He was fascinating and windsurfing was great. Caroline, Adam, Jason and Lucas. Hopefully I will see you in N.M. (briefly, for I don’t want to make you endure my presence as long as I have). To Paul, Nancy and Sarah. I will catch you somewhere sometime doing something…. Take care and maybe we will meet again in this little-known center of culture called SHUNK
R.C.B.
A seasons end ’77
Sandcastles melting in the rain —
People packing, visiting,
To say a last goodby – – –
And finally we ourselves go—leaving this place behind,
Wonder how long that sand castle will last after we leave?
Goodbye, dear Shunk. It’s back to B-gulch & painted circuit boards, then off to Cambridge & the big H (what lies ahead??) I contentendly lost track of time here, as usual. Most of all, I loved being together with “tous mez freres et soeurs… et 2/3 de mes parents” Love, Sarah
(Good-bye “Allisson”! Good luck at the big D! When shall we go to France, dear?) (Clack, er, Cluline, er, uh… Caroline… enjoy Exeter if you find yourself there somehow. Work hard.) Nice to see Kolms, Rich, Champeny’s, Tapio, nancy. (Almost left you out, Nancy, ’cause I think of you as just one of the family!)
Abbs & Jace’s new eyes!! “I CAN SEE!!”
We’re off! 9:25 – Aug. 17, Wednesday, 1977!
Joanne
8/17: Nina & Nancy linger on at Lake House II after delivering Paul & Rich to their respective buses. So quiet here. A totally different place with everyone gone. Saw a flock of chickadees and titmice at Meditation Point. the quiet seeps in thru the open windows. My summer is over—how I shall miss all the good people & times found in Shunk. I hope everyone has a safe trip home & elsewhere. Bye
– Nancy