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Reunion of the Comité |
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Gordon, a man of vast intelligence and many talents, had been cast in the central role of the victim in the Draper Arts Council’s production of “The Curse of Lady Puabi,” a dinner theatre murder mystery. Perceiving a rare reunion opportunity, he invited the Beetles, the Hoxen, the Tree-Frong, and us to come dine with him and Susan and to enjoy the dramatic activities. There seems even to have been an opportunity for diners to participate, and we were urged to come in costume. As it turned out, schedule conflicts left only a group of seven at our table: Gordon and Susan, Valerie and me, and Lowell with his wife Susie* and daughter Kelsey. The evening was a delight: we were reminded of all we shared and that had drawn us together as a Comité forty-one (save the mark!) years earlier in Paris. The next day’s e-mail brought a moving message from Lowell. If the following excerpt survives to appear in the published version of “Such A Life,” the others involved will have given it permission. I hesitate only because the sentiments therein are tender, at least to me and still, after yet another sixteen years. He wrote: Dear Richard and Valerie, It was so nice to spend the dinner evening with you last night. It would have been great to see some of the others, but I’m mostly glad it turned out just a fivesome as that gave us more time just for us. In reflecting on all the feelings from last night, I am so grateful for the good influence you planted in my life those many missionary years ago. You probably never thought of it, planting seeds of goodness in the life of another missionary, as contrasted with the people of France, but that is sure what happened. Good lives, good senses of humor, dedication without haughtiness or pride is the seed and fruition of those good years despite the gap of time. I am grateful that gap of time only feels a short while ago. *Divorce having blessed the Hawkes family with a new configuration and new members. |
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